Korean artist Do-Ho Suh‘s work looks like eye candy, but reads like a masterpiece. Every sculpture is intricately crafted to raise questions about individuality and anonymity. In our contemporary, overpopulated world, is it even possible to stand out, or are we all part of a collective machine? In many of his deceptively simple sculptures, thousands of singular pieces are linked together to form one overarching statement.
Following two years of mandatory military service in Korea, thousands of dog tags were fashioned together to form the shape of an Emperor’s Robe for Suh’s piece, Some/One.
Suh’s experience in the military led to a slew of works questioning the indentity of the individual in the face of a regiment that essentially seeks to efface identity.
Screen
Paratrooper
Who Am We?
Cause and Effect
Another piece from his Paratrooper series features embroidered signatures on a parachute.
Floor
Suh’s mastery of space and the interaction of objects with their environments led him to create a series of pieces that question the nature of identity in a different way. His architectural works crafted from silk or nylon and steel tubing center on the idea of home as a structure and a concept.
Seoul Home/LA Home/New York Home/Baltimore Home/London Home/Seattle Home, reflects Suh’s status as a transient being. After growing up in Korea, he moved to New York, and now frequently travels to promote his work.
Perfect Home II
Reflection
Staircase
I appreciate the tactile quality of Suh’s work as much as I appreciate the clarity and complexity of his vision. And it doesn’t hurt that he likes to read Cabinet, Dwell, and the sadly defunct Blueprint, either. Who says you can’t be pretty and smart?
(Photos courtesy of Lehmann Maupin Gallery and Designboom.)
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Erin, this work is so moving. Suh makes such a strong statement — yet these pieces are utterly beautiful. I love the surface pattern/texture of Emperors Robe. The last pieces are so floaty, ethereal. Amazing. Thanks again for a wonderful post.
As soon as I saw the third picture of the figures holding each other up, I was like “I wonder if that’s the same dude that did the floor…” then I kept scrolling and sure enough!! In December I went to the Indianapolis Museum of Art where they have this instillation and I was absolutely fascinated by it! Thanks for sharing additional work by the artist. I now look forward to watching some of the videos!
Stunning!
Dang-a-lang. I LOVE THIS, and will likely repost this as soon as a chance presents itself.
DANG-A-LANG.
I wish I had made this.
Stephanie, that’s always the best compliment I know how to pay an artist — envy coupled with, Why didn’t I think of that???
Andrea, hello lady! How are things with you?
Tali, hello and welcome! I would LOVE to see these in person. I was introduced to his work several years ago, and still haven’t managed to catch a show. Maybe someday…
SusieQ, glad you liked the post!
those houses are stunning.
is it wrong for me to want to tile my fire place with “who am we”?
I immediately thought of the Beijing Olympics, especially the screen.
In my bleary-eyed-ness of having just woken up, I misread the artist’s name as “Don Ho Sucks” and thought to myself,”What does Erin have against one of Hawaii’s finest thespians?”
I can see now and the power, ingenuity, and message of this man’s work is stunning.
wow. amazing work. and so glad you have nothing against don ho.
Quite incredible stuff. Once again, you guys post the most amazing things!
Really unbelievably moving and thought-provoking and all around stunning. I’ve never seen anything quite like these. I am completely floored by “floor.”
Yay, guys, so glad you like his work! I really didn’t do it justice when I wrote this post because el braino no worky. Let’s hope that some days are better than others!
And who could hate the tiny bubbles? That’s right — no one.
Oh my word! I’m speechless! The robe is phenomenal, and then there’s more and more. I can’t get over the embroidered parachute either. Fantastic stuff!
Wow this work is amazing!
I would give anything to see these in person- they must be incredibly, overwhelmingly impressive.
Hello Miss Ski, so nice to hear from you! Wish I could see them, too — I bet the Bay Area surely will host a review of his work somewhere, sometime…
FF, glad you like it!
And Megan, hello and welcome!
[...] design crisis Biographical Information on Suh: PBS Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York Do-Ho Suh on Art21 [...]