Hayward Gallery Unveils Dual Exhibition by Chiharu Shiota and Yin Xiuzhen
On Wednesday 18 February 2026, the Hayward Gallery launched a new exhibition showcasing the works of artists Chiharu Shiota and Yin Xiuzhen. This dual presentation offers a mercurial and often frustrating experience, blending bold installations with delicate sculptures that explore diverse themes from life and death to globalization and historical erasure.
Chiharu Shiota's Immersive Installations
As visitors enter one gallery, they encounter a thick weave of string forming a nightmare-like spiders' web around a dozen institutional-looking beds. These beds will be occupied by volunteers once a month, adding a performance element to Shiota's installation. Navigating the narrow corridors between the strands evokes a sense of child-like wonder, akin to exploring someone else's dream. This piece stands as the highlight of the exhibition, technically impressive yet intellectually blunt in its simple messages about connection and existence.
Shiota's work includes a room-sized tangle of red string, reminiscent of her 2015 Venice Biennale pieces, with hundreds of antique keys dangling from it and a central door to walk through, symbolizing life's passages. Another installation features thousands of thank you letters suspended from red string, while a wedding gown is enmeshed in a black web, all conveying straightforward ideas on intriguing canvases.
Yin Xiuzhen's Thought-Provoking Sculptures
In contrast, Chinese artist Yin Xiuzhen presents more delicate and specific works, many crafted from disused clothing. Her pieces examine China's role in the global economy, highlighting how factories export products and communities are displaced for growth. A standout is a giant baggage carousel made from clothes, with suitcases containing miniature cities, illustrating the dispersion of Chinese labor worldwide.
Xiuzhen's smaller, introspective pieces include a trunk of clothes made with her mother encased in concrete, preserving memories while being subsumed by modern materials. A video shows locals attempting to clean frozen water blocks from a polluted river, a futile yet cathartic task. These works offer moments of beauty and brilliance, exploring themes of memory and environmental impact with greater depth.
Exhibition Critique and Visitor Information
The exhibition's combination of Shiota's big, bold ideas with Xiuzhen's nuanced explorations results in a show that feels less cohesive than the sum of its parts. While there are impressive elements, the thematic disconnect between the two artists' works can be frustrating for viewers seeking a unified narrative. Despite this, the Hayward Gallery's exhibition provides a unique opportunity to experience contrasting artistic visions in one space.
For more details, visitors are encouraged to check the Hayward Gallery website for updates and additional information on this compelling yet elusive display.
