Chiharu Shiota is a Japanese artist who lives and works in Berlin, known the world over for her immersive installations that incorporate everyday objects into networks of fabric threads.
We have presented her work on Collater.al several times, and today we want to talk about “I hope …”, the installation created by the artist located in the nave of the König Galerie in Berlin, a deconsecrated church that has become an exhibition space.

“I hope …” is a large-scale project made up of three elements: a dense network of fabric threads, 10.000 letters and two metal boats.

To realize this project Chiharu Shiota asked her audience to send her a message telling them their hopes for the future. The 10.000 letters delivered were used for the artistic installation, hung between the red fibres and transformed into an ocean of collective wishes. Enriched with these messages, the red threads reveal people’s inner worlds, recall human blood vessels and interconnect the thoughts and expectations of people from all over the world.

In the midst of this sea of hope float two metal boats on their way to an unknown future, en route in pursuit of other boats – metaphors for the ups and downs of life whose trajectory we do not know.

“I hope …” unites everyone’s experiences and gives a new meaning to individual human visions. Chiharu Shiota’s work immerses viewers in a mesmerizing environment and emphasizes that the future is an as yet undefined present.

This installation is on display in Berlin until 21 March and is available virtually on the gallery’s official website. Discover more of Chiharu Shiota’s work here.