I took Boris on a visit to Rennie Gallery last Sunday to participate in Yoko Ono’s interactive exhibition in residence, Mend Piece. The main level gallery is set up with a long table and chairs, and the surface is covered in white cups and saucers broken into pieces. Participants are given little instruction, just welcomed to sit and mend these pieces of broken pottery using minimal materials, such as tape, glue, and string.
From the Rennie Museum press release:
First conceptualized in 1966, the work immerses the visitor in a dream-like state. Viewers enter into an all-white space and are welcomed to take a seat at the table to reassemble fragments of ceramic coffee cups and saucers using the provided twine, tape, and glue. Akin to the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-sabi, an embracing of the flawed or imperfect, Mend Piece encourages the participant to transform broken fragments into an object that prevails its own violent rupture. The mended pieces are then displayed on shelves installed around the room. The contemplative act of mending is intended to promote reparation starting within one’s self and community, and bridge the gap created by violence, hatred, and war. In the words of Yoko Ono herself, “Mend with wisdom, mend with love. It will mend the earth at the same time.”
The previous two photos above are of the “mending” I worked on in the half hour of time we were allotted to do the activity. I stopped myself from overthinking things and immediately chose a few pieces of pottery to work with, then focused on wrapping white string around them.
I’ve included photos here of mended pieces that caught my eye on the shelves that were assembled by previous participants. I love the butterfly made with string and broken saucers, and the bowl filled with loops of twine.
