Internal Line Installation - Chiharu Shiota

For her design, Shiota drew inspiration from a Japanese legend which says that when a child is born, a red thread is tied to their finger—symbolizing the extension of blood vessels running from the heart to the smallest finger of the hand. Over the course of a lifetime, this invisible thread intertwines with that of another person, creating a connection that, while not necessarily romantic, profoundly influences their paths and destinies.

For this installation, the artist highlights this thread that comes from the heart and creates a universe of connections: “I believe we are all connected. You may not see it with your eyes, but if you could, you would see that humans are all connected.”

Regardless of nationality or color, this second skin accompanies us throughout our life, becoming a vessel for the memories we gather each day.

The monumental installation features three large red dresses and approximately 10,000 vertically hanging threads, totaling over 34 kilometers of material. The red color used in the installation symbolizes the blood flowing through our vessels, representing the energy and connection shared between people.

Chiharu Shiota explores universal human themes such as memory and existence, redefining the concepts of remembrance and consciousness by incorporating everyday objects—like shoes, keys, beds, chairs, and dresses—into vast thread-based structures. In her installations, she delves into the sensation of a “presence in absence,” while also conveying intangible emotions through her sculptures, performance videos, canvases, and photographs.

In 2008, she was awarded the New Artists Encouragement Award by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Her works have been exhibited in solo exhibitions at institutions around the world such as: Mori Art Museum (2019); Gropius Bau (2019); Art Gallery of South Australia (2018); Yorkshire Sculpture Park (2018); Art Factory, Shanghai (2017); K21 Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf (2015); Smithsonian Institution's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (2014); Kochi Art Museum (2013); National Museum of Art (2008), among others.

She has also participated in numerous international exhibitions, including the Oku-Noto International Art Festival (2017), the Sydney Biennale (2016), and the Yokohama Triennale (2001). In 2015, Shiota was chosen to represent Japan at the 56th Venice Biennale.

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