State of Being (windows), 2021

Metal frame, Windows and Thread Initialed lower right CS. Series: State of Being. Chiharu Shiota’s State of Being (Windows) (2021) is a mesmerizing sculptural installation that embodies her signature exploration of memory, absence, and interconnectedness. Encased within a delicate yet intricate web of red thread, fragmented window frames appear suspended in time, evoking a ghostly presence of spaces once inhabited. The vibrant red threads create an ethereal enclosure, symbolizing both entrapment and connection, while the windows suggest portals to the past, lost narratives, or unseen possibilities. Shiota’s work often engages with themes of personal and collective history, using thread as a metaphor for human relationships and the invisible ties that bind us to places and experiences. This unique piece, part of her State of Being series, continues her investigation into the fragility of existence and the traces we leave behind, transforming ordinary objects into evocative meditations on time and memory.