Yoko Ono’s Free Exhibit Encourages the Act of Mending

Yoko Ono’s upcoming installation at the Rennie Museum invites visitors to get hands-on.

Yoko Ono: Mend Piece exhibition at Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi.Viewers play a special role in Yoko Ono’s latest exhibition, Mend Piece, at the Rennie Museum—enter into an all-white space and take a seat at the table to reassemble fragments of ceramic coffee cups and saucers using the provided twine, tape and glue to transform broken fragments into an useful object. The mended pieces are then displayed on shelves installed around the room. Not feeling crafty? Watch the proceedings from the espresso bar—another element of the space that encourages togetherness.First conceptualized in 1966, this exhibition contemplates the act of mending. Part of the inspiration for the art exhibition comes from the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-sabi, which says you can embrace the imperfect on your own way. “I once did this piece on a TV show,” Ono has said in explanation of the piece. “Soon after that John and I were travelling cross-country. A boy came up to us and thanked me for Mend Piece. He said his family had been on the verge of splitting up. But for some reason they happened to watch the TV show together—the one on which I showed Mend Piece—and they decided to mend their relationship and stay together.”Conceptual artist, musician and peace activist, Ono is known for her art performances around the world, including exhibitions at Museum of Modern Art in New York. In the words of Ono herself, “Mend with wisdom, mend with love. It will mend the earth at the same time.”Free bookings will commence February 13 and can be made at the Rennie Museum website. Mend Piece at Andrea Rose Gallery, New York.

Yoko Ono: Mend Piece

Where: Rennie Museum, 51 E Pender St.When: March 1 to March 31, 2018Time: Wednesdays, 4 to 8 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 12 to 6 p.m.Tickets: Free!