MUSEmemoirs

Info

• Dates: 11.12.24 – 19.03.25
• Curator: Mami Kataoka
• Where: Grand Palais
• Price: 14 euros/ 11 euros reduced

The Grand Palais hosts the largest retrospective ever dedicated to Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota, organized in collaboration with the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo. Spanning over three decades of her artistic production, the exhibition traces Shiota’s journey from the 1990s—a pivotal period for the development of her practice—to the present day.

From the very first steps into the exhibition, the visitor is immersed in Shiota’s universe. Suspended from the ceiling above the staircase leading to the exhibition, Where Are We Going? (2017) conveys the looks overhead, inviting both a physical and metaphorical ascent. This striking installation, seamlessly integrated into the architecture of the Grand Palais, sets the tone for this showcase: emotional, immersive, and deeply evocative.

Shiota’s artistic journey is inextricably linked to her personal experiences. While studying at the Australian National University School of Art & Design in Canberra, she found herself at an impasse with painting, struggling with a lack of inspiration. It was there that she created Becoming Painting (1994), her first performative installation, in which she covered herself in paint, an act she describes as revelatory, born from a dream she had. “For the first time, I had not created a meticulously crafted work but had instead committed an act of physical expression in which I was completely invested.”

This turning point led her to experiment further with materiality and space. Soon after, she discovered thread as a medium that would become central to her practice:

“I took some thread I had in my room and started weaving a web around my body and bed. It felt like I was drawing in space. I was creating a three-dimensional painting, and at the same time, it became a mirror of my emotions. With thread, I had finally found my material.”

-Chiharu Shiota

Shiota is best known for these vast, intricate installations made of cotton, metal, or leather threads. Her work openly reflects the emotional significance of her practice, using tangled webs as a metaphor for human connection. Each installation, specifically adapted to its exhibition space and dismantled after each show, evokes profound emotions, aiming to serve as a mirror of the viewer’s inner world.

Beyond their symbolic power, Shiota’s installations also captivate through their high complexity and technical precision. Their construction—an intricate process executed by the artist herself, directly on-site—demands immense patience and meticulous care. As visitors navigate these immersive environments, they are drawn in by the craftsmanship before surrendering to the sensations and emotions the works evoke.

While Shiota’s monumental installations are the focal point of the exhibition, the retrospective also presents lesser-known aspects of her practice. A significant number of drawings line the walls, revealing a new dimension of her work. In recent years, following a cancer diagnosis, Shiota has reflected deeply on the impermanence of her art. Seeking to create works that will survive her ephemeral thread installations, she has turned to sculpture and drawing as more enduring forms of expression.

The exhibition also delves into the breadth of Shiota’s artistic career, showcasing her work as a theater scenographer with an entire section dedicated to her stage designs for productions around the world. Additionally, archival footage of her early performances offers insight into this practice.

This retrospective provides a rich and in-depth exploration of Shiota’s practice, offering an understanding of the themes and emotions that drive her work. However, the exhibition layout does not always allow the artworks to breathe, and certain areas feel congested when accommodating large crowds. A highlight of the exhibition is a long-format documentary featuring an intimate interview with the artist, in which she openly shares her thoughts on her work and creative process. This final element adds another layer to the experience, bringing the visitor closer to Shiota’s poetic and deeply personal world.

My personal highlights:

• Inside-Outside (2008-2024)
• Where are We going?
• Connecting Small Memories