Artists at Art Basel make 'art for a broken world'

American artist Paul Ramirez Jonas in a performance titled Alternative Facts at Art Basel. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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(THE BUSINESS TIMES) - In one room, Japanese art doyenne Yoko Ono - the widow of musician John Lennon - has laid out small pieces of broken teacups and invites visitors to "repair" them using strings, glue and tape. There are no rules for how to put the pieces together - she only asks that you do with it with "love and kindness", says her minder who is there on Ono's behalf.

"There's so much hurt and pain in the world," explains the minder, "that the artist wants us to create new art out of broken objects - it's art for a broken world."

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