First opened in 1995, Swarovski’s Kristallwelten (‘Crystal Worlds’) is like the maddest art gallery you’ve ever been to. Located at the foot of the Alps in the brand’s home of Innsbruck, you enter through a giant’s head waterfall and discover its many Chambers of Wonder, each housing a commissioned art piece designed by some of the world’s most renowned artists. The likes of Niki de Saint Phalle, Yayoi Kusama and James Turrell have all previously had their moment, creating immersive worlds of artistic imagination and innovation. Now, it’s the turn of Japanese visual artist Chiharu Shiota, whose work Crystallizing Identity is currently open to the public.

Known for her immersive installations woven from red threads, for this exhibition, Shiota draws inspiration from the Japanese legend of the red thread of fate: a fabled tale that says that those destined to meet are connected by invisible red threads. Guided by this narrative, she interlaces vibrant red wool threads with sparkling Swarovski crystals, crafting a looping, draped network that gradually pool into human forms.

“The main theme of my work is existence in the absence.”

Alex James Taylor: Can you walk us through the inspiration behind Crystallizing Identity? 
Chiharu Shiota: This installation is about identity and my personal experience, especially the times when I don’t really see myself clearly. When I was living in Japan, I didn’t think much about my identity. I didn’t feel Japanese because everyone around me had the same
cultural background. I felt like salt mixed into water, completely blended in. But after I
moved to Germany and met people from many different countries and cultures, I
started to see myself more clearly. It was like the water dried up and my identity
crystallised. My work always starts with a personal feeling, but I try to turn it into something more universal that other people can connect with.

AJT: How did the location of Kristallwelten influence your installation? 
CS: I cannot create my work at the studio, I need to see the space. If I would only work at
my studio in Berlin, the artworks would either be too big or too small. When I saw the
green giant at Kristallwelten, it gave me the idea to create something about the
mystery of life. We often think our experiences are special or different, but we are all
connected. Being connected to others is a part of being human.

“My work always starts with a personal feeling, but I try to turn it into something more universal that other people can connect with.”

AJT: What was it like working with Swarovski crystals to bring this vision to life? 
CS: I think it is always difficult to include new material, I have the feeling I need to have a
conversation with the material. I don’t want to use it simply for its beauty, I want to
find meaning in the material, both a personal connection and a universal one. I think
the crystals add something new to the feeling of connection I want to express in my
work.

AJT: Is there an overarching idea or theme you are hoping to articulate through your work? 
CS: The main theme of my work is existence in the absence. With my work, I want to
create a universal existence that people can relate to. But in the end, I think there is
no single answer. Everyone will feel something different.

AJT: Who are your biggest artistic influences? 
CS: I have felt especially inspired by Ana Mendieta. When I first saw Mendieta’s work, I
was very moved. I understood her universe immediately, and her way of connecting
the body with nature and using the earth as part of her art. Her work gave me the
courage to look inward and use my own life as a starting point for my art. But for me,
it’s not only other artists who influence me, but also human emotions and
connections.

Find more information here.