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Imagine Peace Tower

Friðarsúlan

The Peace Tower on the island of Viðey is the brainchild of the artist and peace activist Yoko Ono and is intended as a beacon for world peace.

The work is in the form of a "wishing well" on which the words "Imagine Peace" are engraved in 24 languages. Pillars of light rise from the well, composed of fifteen rays that merge into one strong light. Six lights travel through corridors across a platform that surrounds the well and are reflected upwards to the sky with mirrors. The platform is covered with three types of Icelandic rock: liparite, dolerite and basalt. This design is Yoko Ono's symbolic expression of an instructional piece she created in 1965 called Light House.

The artwork was unveiled on 9 October 2007 and dedicated to the memory of John Lennon, who would have been 67 years old at the time.

Every year the Imagine Peace Tower is lit from 9 October (Lennon's birthday) to December 8 (the anniversary of his death). It is also lit from the winter solstice to New Year's Day, and for one week in the spring. The electricity for the column is produced from geothermal energy and comes from the Hellisheidi Power Plant.

"Imagine all the people living life in peace." 
– John Lennon 

"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." 
– Yoko Ono 

“I hope the Imagine Peace Tower will give light to the strong wishes of World Peace from all corners of the planet and give encouragement, inspiration and a sense of solidarity in a world now filled with fear and confusion. Let us come together to realize a peaceful world.” 
– Yoko Ono