Since the 90s, renowned artist Chiharu Shiota has developed an extensive performance and installation practice, amassing a cult following of devoted fans at the same time. Best known for her mammoth installations featuring millions of black, white and red threads, Chiharu creates works that express the intangible experiences of life – memories, dreams, anxiety and silence. Coming to Brisbane from Japan’s Mori Art Museum, sense-tantalising showcase The Soul Trembles is the largest solo exhibition of Chiharu’s work and will spotlight 25 years of her artistic practice.
Curious minds can expect to traverse through seven intricately woven red and black thread installations including A question of perspective 2022, a major new commission drawing on Shiota’s memories of Uluru, which the artist visited during her first trip to Australia. Other highlights of the exhibition include Uncertain journey 2016/2019, a series of boat forms interconnected by red thread, and In Silence 2002/2019, a gothic-esque installation featuring a burnt baby grand piano sitting pretty beside a collection of wooden seats and covered in a spider web of black thread. The other-worldy exhibition will take over the entire ground floor of GOMA and will be joined by a kid-friendly project in the Children’s Art Centre where youngsters can try their hand at drawing how they feel and add it to a cumulative display. There will also be sculpture, video performance, photography and drawings to treat your peepers to during the exhibition so we suggest dedicating a good few hours to this awe-inspiring showcase.
The Soul Trembles will be coming to GOMA from June 18 until October 3. To purchase a timed ticket, head to the QAGOMA website to secure yours.
Image one: Chiharu Shiota / Japan b.1972 / Installation view of Uncertain Journey 2016/2019, in ‘The Soul Trembles’, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2019 / Metal frame, red wool / Dimensions variable / Courtesy: Blain | Southern, London/Berlin/New York / Photograph: Sunhi Mang / Image courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo
Image two: Chiharu Shiota / Japan b. 1972 / Installation view of In Silence 2002/2019, in ‘The Soul Trembles’, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2019 / Burnt piano, burnt chair, Alcantara black thread / Dimensions variable / Production support: Alcantara S.p.A. / Courtesy: Kenji Taki Gallery, Nagoya/Tokyo / Photograph: Sunhi Mang / Image courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo
Image three: Chiharu Shiota / Japan b. 1972 / Installation view of Accumulation – Searching for the Destination 2014/2019, in ‘The Soul Trembles’, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2019 / Suitcase, motor and red rope / Dimensions variable / Courtesy: Galerie Templon, Paris/Brussels / Photograph: Kioku Keizo / Image courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo
This article was written in partnership with our friends at QAGOMA.
