I know there have been a lot of prejudice within academic circles about contemporary art, let alone public. I admit there is a giant Ocean of artists and artworks today and most of them offer quick solutions to even quicker ideas that hasn't been processed to the finest level to become fine art on all levels. By saying that, most of people don't pay attention to explore those finest gems and diamonds in contemporary art world. What a shame we become so ignorant to the contemporeries. Think about it, why is it like this. Why we can see or admire just artworks from the past. Why often do artist dedicate their all time to process art and only when they die their art becomes valuable, and they often live in poverty while investing all they have in knowledge and art. Why?

I'll let you figure out this question on your own.

Contemporary art is for sure not one to be neglected, as I have found so many interesting pieces in last decade in it. Truth is it is so giant that even academic circles do not explore it or teach it at academies properly. I been there, so I know. Why? Because it is expensive in manner of time and money. I must have been one of the the million idiots to dive in endless search, but I don't care. Nothing is more rewarding then finding that one rare piece or person that will illuminate and expand your horizons. I remember when I bought contemporary video collection for Academic students I even had to pay huge tax on it. Lol, just for educational purpose, what a contemporary mafia, that's all what I'll say. 

Many people still live in darkness believing that contemporary art is just dripping paint on canvas without any meaning. I say no. Jackson Pollock did this in 20th century, that was modern abstract and that is one whole century behind us. And this is where even academic study ends, or should I say history of art.

Contemporary art is so much more. It include many media and techniques in its development. And it often include contemporary process of thinking. Real and finest artist often were always ahead of their time, and often non understood and that's why public was used to look back in art. 

Today, our focus will be contemporary artist Chiaru Shiota. Artist born in Japan, studied in Japan and Germany (with Marina Abramovic) and living in Berlin, center of contemporary artists from around the Globe in last decade. She is even guest professor at art academies in California and Kyoto.

Her official site is www.chiharu-shiota.com

Main theme across her artwork is: PRESENCE IN THE ABSENCE

 Shiota ́s works should also be understood as being on the edge of contemporary movements in recent Japanese art,1 which enthusiastically embraced electronic media during the economic boom of the 1980s and reflected on the schismatic character of a culture that is based on an imaginative connection between tradition and adaptation to a hypermodern world.  

Her interest is quiet interesting and contemporary (quote):
 

 I want to bind the body with the universe. I ́m looking for how to connect my body to the universe.  

Her influence is Ana Mendieta, who had the same interest and was quite ahead of her time and often misunderstood. She had an argument with the people she lived with, then jumped out of the window when she was only 38.  

Chiaru Shiota, just like many real artists is asking herself constantly crucial questions about;  feelings and being born.

 

So this is Chiaru Shiota. Make sure to see and notice she is a true artist. You can see that by seeing at the keyspot,  her eyes are in direction of the detail she is looking at while making art, but you can surely sense how her mind transcend and has focus beyond - into the Universe or Universal mind. She is present and she is connected. That'S the main difference between artists and those who just paint or make photographs. Art is a really deep and wide process. Often complicated but freeing.

The Key in Hand, 2015

Japanese Pavillon at Bienalle Venezia 

 Through my installation objects (the boat and the keys), my aim is to represent memories, opportunities and hope. The hanging old keys represent all these human conditions. They are held by a boat which symbolizes a hand wrapping and gathering each human being along with their important features. Visitors may feel as if walking around an ocean of memory. The keys are connected to each other by thousands of red strings. Keys are everyday objects that protect valuable things and by coming into contact with people’s warmth on a daily basis, the keys accumulate a web of memories that coexist within us. They are a medium that conveys our true feelings and they are connected to one another just as humans are. They even resemble the shape of a human body.  

Whole interview about this artwork can be read in here. It is always best, if possible, to read original artists words about the piece then curators.

For better perception of this installation is best to watch the video setup, even you can't expect the exact feeling as if you where there under the power of real installation ambience and measurements. 

Not one time, I noticed, due to complexity of artwork and technical issues, that artworks are bing constructed by whole team of people, not only an artist. Here you can actually see what effort was needed to setup one of her instalations.

A room of Memory, 2008 - 2016

Conscious Sleep, 2016

With this piece she explores the complex relationship between the mind and the body with thread mapping sensations of emotions and memory, like many of her works, large-scale installations incorporate objects such as clothing, furniture, letters, piano and many everyday objects. She is weaving them into tangled webs often in black or red colour. Atmospheric and from other world -  her installations seem like trapping individual memories. 

Contemporary series to be continued with fine Omarrium's attention... 

Until then I hope you will dive into finest artistic process and make some really fine art. Never forget real knowledge comes within. 

Kind regards,
Omarrium

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