Multidisciplinary artist Makiko Harris presents her latest work, Needle Dance, a multimedia exhibition exploring connections and feminist themes through an engaging underwater film and sculpture.
Multidisciplinary artist Makiko Harris is set to debut her latest work, Needle Dance, at art’otel London Hoxton from 17th February to 2nd March. This innovative underwater film and multimedia exhibition merges art, feminist themes, and the exploration of connections through an engaging visual narrative.
The Needle Dance experience includes a five-minute conceptual art film that showcases towering needle sculptures and dancers entwined in vibrant red rope, all set against a captivating aquatic backdrop. This project represents a collaboration between Harris, Director Peter Gray—known for his imaginative visuals in luxury publications such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar—and Costume Designer Deborah Milner, celebrated for her work with the late Alexander McQueen. The score for the film, performed by Harris herself, adds another layer to the viewing experience, enhancing the themes of autonomy and fate that the exhibition seeks to explore.
Central to Harris’s work is an engagement with contemporary feminist identity, utilising the Japanese myth of the red thread of fate, which suggests that invisible strings bind individuals who are destined to meet, irrespective of the obstacles that may arise. In an artful interpretation, Harris delves into whether tradition can coexist with personal agency, a recurring theme throughout her artistic practice.
Makiko Harris, whose diverse body of work includes painting, moving images, and sound, has already garnered significant acclaim, including the Grand Prize at The HIGH Prize for Excellence in 2023 and a grant from the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation in 2022. More recently, she was a finalist for the Ingram Prize in 2024, and her sculpture Sewing Needle 2 (Black and Gold) received positive critical attention.
The exhibition at art’otel London Hoxton comprises a dedicated gallery and a surround-sound cinema. Visitors can view the film on a continuous loop, which is accompanied by behind-the-scenes footage detailing the production process and the collaborative efforts between the artists. The gallery space will feature Harris’s monumental needle sculptures along with two-dimensional artworks and original costumes by Milner, offering an immersive artistic environment.
The focus on the red thread of fate not only highlights the theme of connection but also invites viewers to contemplate the tension between fate and self-determination. Harris states, “For me, filming underwater epitomises the feeling that we’re constantly navigating unseen currents, both literal and metaphorical,” a reflection on the complex interaction between personal desires and inherent destinies.
Harris’s sculptures, which are monumental interpretations of traditional sewing needles, challenge the historical connotation of domesticity associated with such tools. In her artistic vision, these oversized implements transform from instruments of women’s work into powerful symbols of feminist strength. She acknowledges the influence of past feminist artists like Judy Chicago and Louise Bourgeois, whose innovative practices have shaped her approach to exploring identity and belonging through the lens of intergenerational experiences.
In parallel to the project’s themes of struggle, connection, and belonging, the Needle Dance exhibition strives to evoke dialogue about the dualities present in relationships — whether romantic or familial — and the intricate balance of independence within those connections. Harris articulates this when she notes that “it’s always going to be a struggle… while trying to define our own paths,” ultimately aiming to celebrate the ties that enrich human experience.
The exhibition Needle Dance is poised to provide an insightful and thought-provoking engagement with contemporary feminist discourse, showcasing the multifaceted talent of Makiko Harris.
Details of the event are as follows:
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Title: Needle Dance | Artist: Makiko Harris
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Dates: 17th February – 2nd March
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Venue: art’otel London Hoxton (Cinema & Gallery Spaces)
For more information, visitors are encouraged to explore the exhibition website at art’otel London Hoxton.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Image: art’otel London Hoxton