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Crystallizing IDentity

by Chiharu Shiota

Chiharu Shiota weaves threads of red wool and crystals into a complex network that leads visitors to crystalline casts of her own hands and feet. These points act as anchors in the room and reflect her personal journey of self-discovery that began while she was studying in Germany. Here, far from home, she noticed how deeply connected people. Inspired by this knowledge and the surrounding landscape, she created installations that explore the mysteries of life and invite viewers to contemplate the idea that we are all connected by nature. The individual becomes part of the collective. 

Chiharu Shiota (born in 1972 in Osaka) has been living and working in Berlin since 1996. Her work is often inspired by personal experiences, which she expands into universal concerns about human relationships, life, and freedom. She gained international recognition for her expansive installations that weave together everyday objects such as boats, keys, chairs, books, and clothes via a complex network of threads. 

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These include her installation The Key in the Hand, displayed at the Venice Biennale in 2015. Chiharu Shiota’s poetic works on the topics of human existence, memory, and the fragility of being featured in exhibitions around the world.

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