Chiharu Shiota's Haunting Installation Opens at Former Nazi Death Camp

Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota's poignant exhibition "Where are we now?" has opened at the site of the former Nazi death camp in Ebensee, Austria. The haunting installation features 25 large, floating dresses suspended from the ceiling by a web of red threads, symbolizing the absence of those who once inhabited them.

Shiota explains the meaning behind her work: "I used the dress, which is an empty body, and the theme of my work is the absence of existence. To exist here, but here, there is no one." She also notes the significance of the color red in Japanese culture, stating, "The color red is important. Its meaning in Japan is connected with our destiny, fate. It's also the color of blood. And inside the blood, there is everything, like family, nationality, or religion."

Why this matters: This exhibition serves as a powerful reminder of the atrocities committed during World War II and the importance of preserving the history of theHolocaust. It also highlights the ongoing impact of trauma and loss on communities and the need for continued reflection and remembrance.

The exhibition is held at the former Nazi death camp in Ebensee, where over 8,000 prisoners, including 552 Italians, perished between 1943 and 1945, primarily due to starvation and malnutrition. The prisoners were forced to construct an extensive network oftunnels, which now serve as a somber reminder of their forced labor. Wolfgang Quatember, head of the Memorial and Museum of Contemporary History and Ebensee Concentration Camp, remarks,"This tunnel is, in fact, as many prisoners have always said, the manifest testimony, what remains of their forced labor."

Shiota's installation will be open to the public until September 2024 and is part of the Salzkammergut region's program as the European Capital of Culture 2024, along with the nearby town of Bad Ischl. The exhibition's location within the tunnels of the former concentration camp adds a layer of historical weight and emotional resonance to the artist's exploration of absence and the human condition.

"Where are we now?" serves as a powerful tribute to the lives lost at Ebensee and a thought-provoking reflection on the enduring impact of the atrocities committed there. Shiota's installation invites visitors to contemplate the absence of those who suffered and died, while the red threads that connect the dresses serve as a poignant reminder of the shared humanity that binds us all.

Key Takeaways

• Chiharu Shiota's "Where are we now?" exhibition opens at former Nazi death camp in Ebensee, Austria.
• The installation features 25 floating dresses suspended by red threads, symbolizing absence.
• The color red represents destiny, fate, and blood in Japanese culture.
• The exhibition serves as a reminder of WWII atrocities and the importance of preserving Holocaust history.
• The installation will be open to the public until September 2024 as part of the European Capital of Culture 2024.