Cause & Effect was installed in its current form at Western Washington University in 2012. Through the influence of postmodernity, Cause & Effect challenges the inevitability of human progress and reflects how Suh views and perceives society. He does not critique what he sees in society, as one might expect from modernity, he uses themes of postmodernity to play with pluralism. While Cause & Effect represents strength and togetherness of humanity it also represents the fluidity of one’s experiences from one lifetime to the other. Still sticking with themes of postmodernity, Suh may be influenced with an overall theme of the loss of values due to the abundance of technology. As is internationally known, Seoul, South Korea, Suh’s birthplace, is extremely technologically advanced. It is, in fact, one of the biggest cities for technology. It may be that Suh is reflecting on the loss of personal connection due to the importance of technology, perhaps this installation is an attempt to bring people together- to connect them in a way that is more intimate and real. Cause & Effect can therefore be seen as an encouragement and reminder of the importance of human connection with each other as well as the self.

 

Video Credits

Jessica Anderson: Researcher/Writer

Nora Curran: Photographer/Videographer

Jack Moore: Researcher/Writer

Photo of figurine: http://www.streetsofbeige.com/2012/02/cause-effect-installation-by-artist-do.html

Photo of Do Ho Suh: http://www.windowmagazine.org/window/?section=Stories&id=333

Photo of WWU installation: https://fishandbicycles.com/2012/06/04/eyecatchers-do-ho-suh-arrives/