Ever since its foundation, the Venice Art Biennale<\/a> has been at the forefront in the research and promotion of new artistic trends. \u00a0Amongst the several art installations, one of the highlights of the 2015 biennale is the installation created by\u00a0Japanese artist\u00a0Chiharu Shiota\u00a0<\/strong>at the entrance of the Japan pavilion.\u00a0Titled,\u00a0“The Key in the Hand”<\/strong><\/em>, the installation is\u00a0an elaborate entanglement of red wool and keys that dangle above two ancient looking boats.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Keys are familiar and very valuable things that protect important people and spaces in our lives. They also inspire us to open the door to unknown worlds”<\/em>, Shiota explains.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The installation seeks to explore the notion of memory, using tens of thousands of keys collected from people across the globe in its realization.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The installation comprises of\u00a0more than 50,000 keys collected from general public that are hung from a web of\u00a0tightly interwoven strings. The web of threads turns the roof into a complex labyrinth of materials, forming an undulating\u00a0path for viewers to travel beneath.\u00a0Two rustic boats at the center of the space part the veil of keys, catching the\u00a0net of interlaced metal and material as it passes over and permeates the entirety of the site.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Shiota prefers using keys\u00a0provided by the general public that are imbued with various recollections and memories that have accumulated over a long period of daily use.<\/p>\n “As I create the work in the space, the memories of everyone who provides me with their keys will overlap with my own memories for the first time. These overlapping memories will in turn combine with those of the people from all over the world who come to see the biennale, giving them a chance to communicate in a new way and better understand each other\u2019s feelings.”<\/em>\u00a0Shiota<\/p>\n