Chiharu Shiota's Poetic Magic in Provence

Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota, celebrated for her immersive, large-scale and ephemeral installations that weave together memory, absence and the passage of time, brings her latest exhibition to Aix-en-Provence. What makes this exhibition particularly special is that it spans three historic spaces in the city - the Musée des Tapisseries, the Chapelle de la Visitation and the Musée du Pavillon de Vendôme. Each are worth a visit in their own right, but her work, woven inside, makes the settings come alive in new ways.

The artist speaks of her material - the red and black woven thread, "The threads are woven together. They become entangled. They tear. They unravel. They are like a mirror of feelings."

At the Musée des Tapisseries, Shiota weaves a tunnel of red threads, inviting the visitor to amble through. The tunnel is tight, so the feeling is a mix of protection and feeling oppressed. The artist created this work after a battle with cancer and the existential themes of the body in time, our ephemeral nature and the life force of the cells that makes us up are palpable as one experiences the piece.

Each of the exhibition spaces are historic and wonders of Aix-en-Provence.

At the Chapelle de la Visitation, the exhibition is specifically entitled, "Collecting Feelings." Here, the artist weaves thank you letters and messages of gratitude directly into thousands of hanging red threads. It is as if they are raining down from the heavens. The threads occupy the entire space of the small (and very beautiful) chapel. The letters float, written in many different language, from many different lands, all a dedication to what ultimately connects us.

At the Musée du Pavillon de Vendôme, Shiota's work is showcased in various rooms of the grand space. Tiny worlds of dollhouse furniture are tangled in her crimson web, photographs, drawings, a black tangle in one room.

In each space, Chiharu Shiota invites the viewer to consider their own ideas of permanence, the body, memory, connection and dreams. If Aix-en-Provence is on your travel map, this exhibition and these spaces are well worth a stop.

Photography and writing by Emilie Johnson. She lives in Provence and can be found on instagram at @emilie_joly_johnson