Yoko Ono's 'Cut Piece' Recreated for NYC's Fashion's Night Out

Those brave enough to fight their way through the crowds in New York City's SoHo neighborhood Friday night may have witnessed a recreation of 'Cut Piece,' Yoko Ono's controversial conceptual art performance. Right at the heart of Fashion's Night Out, a night of shopping and in-store parties held on the eve of New York Fashion Week, the Yoko Ono tribute was performed by New York-based fashion label threeASFOUR and staged at the MoMA Design store.

Intended as a commentary on her own internal suffering, Ono's 'Cut Piece' was first performed in 1964 in Tokyo, as audience members were invited to cut off pieces of her outfit until she was left onstage naked. The performance was notable for the reactions of the audience, which varied from city to city and often reflected the culture of the participants.

At the MoMA store, fashion-forward audience members were hesitant at first, as a threeASFOUR model stood expressionless in the center of the room. Eventually the emboldened crowd began cutting, paying special attention to the shapes and patterns as they clipped.

One of the fashion industry's resident DJs, Ben Brunnemer, spun music from Yoko Ono's entire career as the performance took place. After about an hour, the model, left standing in nothing but a nude bodysuit, gathered the remnants of her garment and walked off. It was a fitting tribute to the famed musician and artist, whose life and work, though often controversial, has certainly had an impact on the avant garde fashion community.