Installed within the iconic brutalist architecture of the
Hayward Gallery,
Chiharu Shiota: Threads of Life transforms the space into a poetic, contemplative environment — one that envelops visitors in a mesh of threads that echoes the complexity and nuance of life itself.
The Japanese artist is internationally celebrated for her immersive, large-scale, web-like installations constructed from intricate networks of thread that transform entire spaces into evocative environments. In this exhibition, she takes over the gallery’s top floor with expansive floor-to-ceiling works composed of woollen threads that weave through and around everyday objects — such as keys, shoes, beds, chairs and dresses — creating intricate nets that both reveal and obscure their forms. These entanglements explore themes of memory, consciousness, interconnectedness and the fragility of human existence.
Threads of Life not only includes these monumental installations but also features new large-scale sculptures, drawings, early performance videos and photographs, offering a comprehensive survey of Shiota’s artistic evolution. Her use of thread and found objects creates spaces that feel both intimate and universal, inviting visitors to reflect on life, death, relationships and the often invisible connections between individuals. There’s also a participatory elements in Letters of Thanks, where members of the public are invited to contribute handwritten notes of gratitude that will be integrated into the installation.
