The city of Prague is set to host a mesmerizing exhibition that promises to captivate art enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. From November 28, 2024, to April 28, 2025, Kunsthalle Praha will present "The Unsettled Soul," the first-ever exhibition in the Czech Republic by internationally acclaimed Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota. This landmark event offers a unique opportunity to experience Shiota's powerful and thought-provoking thread installations, which have gained worldwide recognition for their ability to explore the depths of the human condition.
Uncertain Journey, 2019, metal frame, red wool
Installation view: Shiota Chiharu: The Soul Trembles, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2019
Photo by Sunhi Mang, Photo Courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo. Copyright VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2023 and the artist
Shiota's artistic vision is characterized by her use of intricate networks of threads to create immersive environments that blur the lines between sculpture, performance, and installation. Her work delves into profound themes such as life, death, and memory, inviting viewers to embark on a journey of self-reflection and emotional exploration. The exhibition at Kunsthalle Praha will showcase four major installations, some of which have been created specifically for this venue.
One of the most striking aspects of Shiota's work is her ability to transform spaces into dreamlike landscapes that engage viewers on both emotional and intellectual levels. The artist's signature large-scale thread artworks serve as powerful symbols of the bonds and relationships that connect us all. In "The Unsettled Soul," these installations will occupy two expansive gallery spaces, creating an immersive experience that promises to leave a lasting impression on visitors.
A particularly intriguing element of the exhibition is an installation inspired by the Vltava River, which Shiota encountered during her first visit to Prague. The artist was struck by the river's significance as a symbol of time's passage and its role in connecting Prague to other countries and cultures. This piece beautifully encapsulates Shiota's talent for weaving together personal observations with universal themes, creating a work that resonates with both local and international audiences.
Counting Memories, 2019
Installation: wooden desks, chairs, paper, black wool
Muzeum Śląskie w Katowicach, Katowice, Poland
Photo by Sonia Szelag. Copyright VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2023 and the artist
Lifelines, 2019
Performance/ Installation: red wool, wooden chair
Kulturprojekte Berlin, Germany
Photo Sunhi Mang. Copyright VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2023 and the artist
Another installation in the exhibition explores the concept of home, a recurring theme in Shiota's oeuvre. Drawing from her experiences of living between Japan and Germany, the artist uses red threads woven through metal structures shaped like houses to represent the complex bonds of family, culture, and belonging. This poignant work speaks to the universal human longing for connection and the often complicated nature of personal identity in an increasingly globalized world. The exhibition also features a haunting installation centered around a burnt piano, inspired by a powerful childhood memory of the artist. This piece serves as a meditation on the lingering impact of loss and the ways in which absence can shape our understanding of the world. By transforming a personal memory into a universal meditation on mortality and remembrance, Shiota demonstrates her unique ability to create art that is both deeply personal and widely relatable.
Visitors to "Chiharu Shiota: The Unsettled Soul" will also have the opportunity to trace the development of Shiota's artistic vision through a curated selection of her earlier works from the 1990s. This retrospective element of the exhibition provides valuable context for understanding the evolution of Shiota's distinctive visual language and her ongoing exploration of the human experience.
In addition to the physical installations, the exhibition will be accompanied by a rich program of events, including talks, screenings, workshops, and lectures. These supplementary activities will offer visitors the chance to deepen their engagement with Shiota's work and explore its connections to other fields of contemporary art and thought. For those unable to visit the exhibition in person, Kunsthalle Praha will release an illustrated catalogue in February 2025. This beautifully designed publication will feature extensive photographic documentation of the exhibition, along with curatorial texts that provide insight into Shiota's artistic process and the themes explored in her work.
Flow of Life, 2017
Installation: metal beds, red liquid, tubes, pump
Power Station of Art, Shanghai, China
Photo by Jiang Wenyi; courtesy of Power Statiob of Art. Copyright VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2023 and the artist
Thread of Fate, 2021
Installation: mixed media
Diskurs 2021-Ring 20.21, Festspielpark, Bayreuth
Photo by Sunhi Mang. Copyright VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2023 and the artist
I hope..., 2021
Installation: rope, paper, steel
König Galerie, Berlin, Germany
Photo by Sunhi Mang. Copyright VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2023 and the artist
Multiple Realities, 2022
Installation: mixed media
Cisternerne, Muserne Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
Photo by Torben Eskerod. Copyright VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2023 and the artist
"Chiharu Shiota: The Unsettled Soul" promises to be a transformative experience for visitors, offering a rare opportunity to immerse oneself in the ethereal and emotionally charged world of Chiharu Shiota's art. As the first major exhibition of Shiota's work in the Czech Republic, it represents a significant cultural event that is not to be missed by anyone with an interest in contemporary art or the exploration of the human condition.
Chiharu Shiota: The Unsettled Soul
Dates: November 28, 2024 - April 28, 2025
Venue: Kunsthalle Praha, Prague, Czech Republic
Curator: Christelle Havranek
Admission: Free for visitors under 26 with membership
Website: https://www.kunsthallepraha.org/
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