Chiharu Shiota Weaves a New Wonder at Swarovski Kristallwelten

Chiharu Shiota

Swarovski Kristallwelten in Wattens, Austria, has unveiled a new Chamber of Wonder: Crystallizing Identity by renowned Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota. Known for her installations woven with memory, presence, and absence, Shiota incorporates Swarovski crystals into her work for the first time, rendering a poetic meditation on connection.

A dense network of red threads—evoking the Japanese legend of the invisible red thread linking destined souls—is interwoven with delicate crystal beads and ultimately gathered into sculptural human forms crafted by Swarovski’s artisans.

With this installation, Shiota joins the ranks of artists such as Yayoi Kusama and James Turrell who have contributed to the ever-evolving artistic narrative of Swarovski’s Chambers of Wonder.