Chiharu Shiota's 'Connected to Life' at ZKM Karlsruhe

Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota has unveiled a monumental installation titled 'Connected to Life' at the ZKM Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe, Germany. The work features 50 beds suspended from the ceiling, pointing upward, creating a powerful memorial reflecting on the recent pandemic and its social, political, and economic immobilization. Red liquid flows through tubes resembling a spiderweb, symbolizing blood circulation and life's continuity. The installation transforms the ZKM's spacious hall from a bustling meeting point into a silent space for contemplation, yet the work is dynamic, requiring viewers to shift their gaze from bottom to top. Shiota, born in Osaka in 1972, currently lives and works in Berlin. She was awarded by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2008 and represented Japan at the 56th Venice Biennale in 2015. Her inspiration often stems from personal experiences, expanding into universal human concerns about life, death, and relationships. The exhibition runs until September 5, 2021.