Introduction

Do Ho Suh’s art is directly connected to themes relevant to today. For example, Do Ho Suh’s sculptures often relate to ideas of unity and what it means to come together. His work also questions is being an individual still possible when having to come together? One thing is for sure though, Do Ho Suh’s work shows the beauty that can be created by coming together.

History

Do Ho Suh was born in Seoul, Korea in 1963. He uses memories from his childhood in Korea to inspire his artwork. He also uses themes of identity in his work and the tiny sculpture of a person recurring in some of his work. Do Ho Suh studied art in Korea and then the United states and now moves between Korea and New York. His sculptures challenge the notion of how people fit into space, connecting to how Korea is a highly populated area. Later in his life, Do Ho Suh moved to New York, another very crowded area. This may be where his fascination with how humans fill space began, incorporating hundreds of these figures to create his sculptures to exhibit this sense of togetherness. Do Ho Suh was constantly surrounded by people throughout the majority of his life. Yet, he sees space uniquely, which relates back some of his other sculptures, where he replicates housing structures. He looks at how people fit into spaces, as well as how buildings cause us to fit in space.

A Student’s Reaction

It was not until the third or fourth time that I walked underneath this piece, that I was shocked to find that it was composed of little, expressionless men that reminded me of mannequins, causing me to further stare at this somewhat unusual creation. This impressive stacking of different lengths creates a great cone shape that comes to a gradual point, with similar structuring of a volcano. The major detailing of how the figures were on top of each other’s shoulders, lifting up one another, began to stand out more and more. The sculpture created this feeling of community and that the support of others, used in a more literal sense in this piece, can lead to some rising up and becoming successful, creating this bottleneck effect of life. Do Ho Suh explores the strength of working together as a whole, a concept that is vital but overlooked in college. As students, it is essential to explore and become the individual, but still contribute to the community and those around us.

Connection and Meaning

Through “Cause and Effect,” Do Ho Suh emphasizes the importance of strength in numbers, that within a group of people, there are individuals who can contribute to the greater contribution. Do Ho Suh explores this relationship between a group and its members and how these two factors can affect and benefit one another. His intent behind this magnificent sculpture was to utilize an immense number of small figures to create a Doppler graph effect, similar to a wave or stalactite, that builds upon itself. Working as a community can have its ups and downs, its tidal patterns of success and failure. With the small figurines, he also addresses the quick assumptions made when perceiving a crowd or group, even in this time of individualism and emphasis on distinction. Recent research suggest that Do Ho Suh is also exploring the presence of destiny and what fate truly means to an individual and to a larger assembly. The use of figurines stacked upon each other suggests the buildup of a country’s or group’s past and how history can affect the population in present day.

Connection and Meaning, A Student’s Reaction, and photography: Abby Severns

Introduction, History, and research: Annabelle Lincoln

Sources

About “MAM Collection”.” MAM Collection 002: Existence and Space – Suh Do Ho + Po Po | MAM Collection | Mori Art Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017. <http://www.mori.art.museum/english/contents/mamproject/mamcollection/002.html>.

“Cause and Effect by Do Ho Suh | Artech.” RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017. <http://artechseattle.com/services/case_study/cause_and_effect_by_do_ho_suh>.

“‘Cause & Effect’ Sculpture on Its Way up at WWU.” ‘Cause & Effect’ Sculpture on Its Way up at WWU | Western Today. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017. <https://westerntoday.wwu.edu/photos/cause-effect-sculpture-on-its-way-up-at-wwu>.

“Do Ho Suh – Contemporary Austin.” The Contemporary Austin. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017. <http://www.thecontemporaryaustin.org/exhibitions/do-ho-suh/>.

“Do Ho Suh.” 123 Artworks, Bio & Shows on Artsy. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017. <https://www.artsy.net/artist/do-ho-suh/works?medium=sculpture>.

Robertson, Jean, and Craig McDaniel. Themes of Contemporary Art: Visual Art after 1980. New York: Oxford UP, 2005. Print.