Chiharu Shiota Weaves Threads of Memory and Emotion at the Grand Palais

Jan 8

Chiharu Shiota, Uncertain Journey, 2024. Photo courtesy: Grand Palais, Paris ©Adagp, Paris, 2024

Currently captivating audiences at the Grand Palais in Paris is Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota’s largest exhibition to date, The Soul Trembles. Running from December 11, 2024, to March 19, 2025, this landmark showcase spans over 1,200 square meters and includes monumental installations, sculptures, drawings, and archival materials from her 20+ year career.

Chiharu Shiota, Accumulation-Searching for the Destination 2024.
Photo courtesy: Grand Palais, Paris ©Adagp, Paris, 2024

Known for her intricate, web-like installations crafted with interwoven threads, Shiota invites visitors into ethereal spaces that challenge perceptions of memory, absence, and connection. One such centerpiece is Uncertain Journey, a stunning composition of red wool and a metal frame that feels simultaneously fragile and enduring.

Chiharu Shiota, In Silence 2024.
Photo courtesy: Grand Palais, Paris ©Adagp, Paris, 2024

This exhibition is a departure from her more intimate New York shows, such as the one at MoMA PS1 in 2003, yet the emotional resonance remains universal. Through her art, Shiota conveys the tremors of the soul, drawing from personal experiences and the collective human condition.

@Japan_Suite_Chiharu_Shiota — Chiharu Shiota ©Japan Suite Inc 2025

Don’t miss the chance to experience the awe-inspiring craft of an artist who transforms spaces into immersive realms of wonder and introspection.

Japan Suite

Showcasing traditional Japanese crafts and the artisans who create them — their stories and their art in words and visions. Japan’s hand-made crafts have played an integral role in the lives of Japanese for centuries. They are created in response to basic, everyday needs and have long been used in the daily rhythms of life. They come from the earth and from nature, and they are prized for their simplicity and long life. Craftspeople pour their passion, pride and energy into their handiwork, creating objects that can far outlive their creators, but in doing so, they carry on the artist’s legacy. The artisans know their objects can live hundreds of years, and they want to be just as proud of it in 100 years as they are today. So, everyday household items take on a life of their own, their own spirit and their own story. They are unique, one-of-a-kind creations with a character and spirit that grows stronger with regular use. The artist creates the object, but that is just the beginning of the journey. In the hands of its owner, a relationship is created, one that is nurtured across time. Just as we do, these creations will change over time developing new imperfections and new character. Each region and each artisan have their own character. In Japan, this is known as meibutsu. The legacy has been passed down by Japanese artists across time down to today’s craftspeople who are advancing and redefining this tradition. We applaud these artisans, and we strive to support them as they re-interpret the heritage of their predecessors — and we are proud to introduce their work, their stories and the passion they put into their creation here at Japan Suite.

Chiharu Shiota Weaves Threads of Memory and Emotion at the Grand Palais

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