'Born in Seoul, Korea, studying in America, and now based in New York and London, Do Ho Suh (b. 1962) travels the globe pursuing his practice, and as a man on the move, repeatedly probes the never-ending questions of where he comes from, and what he is.The dynamism of the works of Suh, products of meticulous technique and countless hours of handwork, bears handcraft elements from Suh’s native Korea, and the strength arising out of group solidarity that could be described as a mark of the Asian character. Since the mid-1990s, Suh has built full-scale “house” motifs using semitransparent cloth to create, among other dwellings, the traditional homes of his birthplace, and his apartment in the United States, in a series of stunning soft sculptures attracting considerable comment. The “houses” in which we spend so many vital hours of our lives are places that nurture our identities, and by recreating their spaces and structures, Suh questions where public and private, faraway birthplace and current abode, land of our memories and real places meet, and the lines between them.

'Individuals grounded in “houses” form groups that make up societies. Suh’s works take items such as uniforms and army dogtags that identify individuals as part of a specific group, and while challenging the authorities that confine individuals within particular frameworks, develops these items into installations that are metaphors for the enormous power generated when the small, individual power of nameless people is combined. Turning his gaze on the relationships between the identities of individuals and groups, Suh discerns in the individual collective things such as history, culture, society and the state.

'As an Asian on the move, negotiating different cultures while reflecting on his origins, Suh nurtures and acquires new identities. Do Ho Suh: in between introduces the attempts of the artist in a global era in which economies and societies would come to a halt without the intersection of people, objects and information to explore the self and make the world a smaller place, while negotiating cultures of different origins and moving to and fro between tradition and innovation, individual and group.

'Previous presentations of Suh’s works in Japan have focused primarily on his fabric pieces, but influenced by aspects of Japanese subculture such as figurines, he has also turned out various sculptural pieces in different materials. This solo exhibition is the first in Japan to offer a true overview of Suh’s career to date, from early efforts to latest pieces. Suh’s architectural works manifest a site- specific composition that appears to be in dialogue with the surrounding museum architecture, making this a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for visitors too.' (from website of Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art)



活躍の場を世界に広げる韓国出身のアーティスト、ス・ドホは、異文化との折衝に身を置き、移動やそれに伴うアイデンティティーの変化をテーマに90年代半ばから布を使った建築的作品や、人型を用いた大型のインスタレーションを制作してきました。アジアの手工芸が持つ繊細さと、集合体のパワーが放つダイナミズムを備えた作品は、驚くほど精巧で、感嘆の声が上がるほど大掛かりなものです。本展は「移動と可動建築」、「ひとびとの力」の2部構成で、日本で初公開となる初期作品から近作まで、ス・ドホの活動を広く紹介します。

家族、伝統、民族などの出自を象徴する「家」をモチーフにした代表作では、軽やかな半透明の布や精巧に作られた模型で、移動の時代の記憶、身体性、個人空間の概念などを視覚化します。さらに個と集団の関係性に目を向けるス・ドホは、パーソナルな視点から、文化、歴史、社会というパブリックなものを見つめていきます。日本の同時代文化から受けた大きな影響も見いだせるス・ドホの造形世界に本格的に迫る展覧会です。
Access level

Onsite

Location code
MON.SDH
Language

English, 

Japanese

Publication/Creation date

2012

No of pages

96

ISBN / ISSN

9784939105326

No of copies

1

Content type

artist monograph, 

catalogue

Chapter headings

Thus Every Place Becomes a Home - Yukie KAMIYA, 神谷幸江

Do Ho Suh's Sub-Life, Sub-Architecture - Noi SAWARAGI, 椹木野衣

DO HO SUH in between
Share
Citation
Rights statement

In Copyright

What does this mean?

This item is covered by one or more copyrights. It is available for research only or use within Hong Kong’s fair dealing rules. Please do not copy, re-use or reproduce this item without the permission of the copyright holder.

DO HO SUH in between, ス・ドホ in between