Ono unveils naked tribute to Lennon

Photographs by Yoko Ono of a woman's breast and crotch are adorning public buildings across Liverpool.

Photographs by Yoko Ono of a woman's breast and crotch are adorning public buildings across Liverpool.

John Lennon's widow was showing off her latest works yesterday in the former Beatle's home town. The project, My Mummy Was Beautiful 2004, is one of 40 new works by 40 artists commissioned for the Liverpool Biennial International exhibition.

Ono said: "This work was initially about my mother. But when I decided to do it in Liverpool, suddenly I remembered how John loved his mother, and it choked me up. So this one in Liverpool will be my tribute to John.

"I think it will look very beautiful spread over this highly energised, beautiful city, the one John loved so much, and the one I've grown to love."

Lewis Biggs, director of the third Liverpool Biennial, said: "Naturally I hope that it offends nobody because there is no reason why it should offend anybody. The photographs we are being given are of a body that is very beautiful. So why should there be a problem?"

Ono helped launch the exhibition at the ruined St Luke's church, which was bombed in the Second World War and has been preserved as a war memorial. Cherie Blair officially opened the art show at Liverpool Town Hall last night.

Ono was regarded as one of the most original performance and installation artists in the 1960s. Among her work is the film Bottoms, which shows the naked bottoms of people walking. Last year Ono was left on a Paris stage in her underwear, when audience members cut off her clothes as part of her art show Cut Piece.