Lennon's Magic Eye to go on display

A mosaic created by John Lennon in the mid-60s is to be seen by the pubic for the first time when it goes on display at The Beatles Story Museum in Liverpool.

"The Magic Eye" was a 16ft by 6ft artwork feature of Lennon's Kenwood estate swimming pool (in Surrey). The mosaic is thought to have been inspired by his interest in spiritual matters following The Beatles 1967 visit to India to study the teachings of Maharishi Yogi.

Weighing over two tons and made up of approximately 17,000 ceramic pieces, it has been painstakingly restored by ardent Beatles fan Tom Lorimer, a technician at Liverpool John Moore's University. Lorimer had been contacted by Merseyside businessman Wladek 'Butch' Reszczynski, who had been asked to clear items from the derelict site of the 1984 International Garden Festival. The story goes that he found The Magic Eye and stored it in a field in the Wirral, only belatedly discovering the Lennon connection. Lorimer says;

John Lennon was fascinated by Indian mysticism. He designed The Magic Eye based on the Maharishi's teachings about the Eye of Knowledge or the Middle Eye. It was in very poor condition. Moss was covering it in parts but I offered to restore it and Butch agreed.

The Magic Eye goes on display in early March at the newly expanded Beatles museum on Albert Dock. For more on the museum and the artwork visit The Beatles Story website here.