Chiharu Shiota

Known for her intricate and immersive installations, Chiharu Shiota weaves a web of enveloping and tactile environments exploring the human condition. Born in 1972 in Osaka, Japan, Shiota developed an early passion for art, which she pursued through rigorous training and education. She studied at the Kyoto Seika University, the Canberra School of Art in Australia, and later at the Universität der Künste in Berlin, where she currently resides and works.

Chiharu Shiota’s ethereal installations often incorporate personal tokens, everyday objects and materials such as books, keys and boats, woven into complex webs that transform spaces and evoke deep emotional responses. Her works explore themes of memory, consciousness, and the interconnection of human experiences. Shiota’s installations are not merely visual spectacles but also profound reflections on existence, identity and the passage of time.

In 2015 Shiota gained international acclaim for her work at the Venice Biennale, where she represented Japan with the installation The Key in the Hand. This powerful piece featured two boats connected by a vast network of red yarn and over 50,000 keys donated by people from around the world, symbolising shared memories and collective experiences.

Created in 2016, Chiharu Shiota’s State of Being (2016) was made in dialogue with her 2015 Venice Biennale contribution. The 2016 work, a striking manifestation of materiality and memory, was installed as part of the KØS Museum of Art’s In your hear In your city exhibition of public art. The piece was sold at Christie’s London in 2021 for £287,500, a world auction record for the artist.

Throughout her career, Chiharu Shiota's artwork has been exhibited in major galleries and museums worldwide. Her ability to transform everyday materials into a unique narrative and shared artistic experience places her as one of the most interesting voices in contemporary art.