Analysis of the feminist performance of Yoko Ono Cut Piece : Imagine being so open to vulnerability, that you would voluntarily sit on stage dressed in your best outfit and invite audience members to come on stage and cut out pieces of your clothing. On July 20,1964, then-31-year-old Japanese artist Yoko Ono did exactly this in Kyoto’s Yamaichi Concert Hall as part of her performance art piece Cut Piece. At once intimate and provocative in nature, subtle and bold in gesture, the work is considered to be a shining example of performance art and, at that time, it pushed the boundaries of art by making the audience integral to the work, both in terms of those viewing the art and those performing the discomfiting act of cutting clothing off her body.

Early next year, an exhibition featuring over half a century’s work by Yoko Ono is set to debut at the Tate Modern, marking the largest ever exhibition on her life in the UK to date. Landing on February 15, 2024 and sticking around until September 1, Yoko Ono: Music Of The Mind promises to be a multi-platform look at the work of the world-renowned artist across the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Visitors can expect to see more than 200 pieces, across the forms of artwork, music, films, photography, installations, her engagement with her audience, and much more.

"Yoko Ono : The Music of the Mind" (15th February – 1st September 2024, Tate Modern) will celebrate Ono’s groundbreaking contributions to early conceptual and participatory art, music, and her passionate advocacy for world peace. Over seven decades, from the mid-1950s to today, the exhibition delves into her innovative work, spanning more than 200 pieces, including instruction-based art, installations, films, music, and photography. It will showcase her unique approach to language, art, and audience engagement, which remains relevant today.