DO HO SUH

Renowned for his ethereal fabric replicas of architectural spaces and everyday objects, Suh's practice reflects his personal experiences of migration and cultural dislocation. His innovative approach to materials and space has earned him international acclaim, with exhibitions at major institutions worldwide, including a major retrospective at Tate Modern in 2025.

Through his intricate recreations of personal spaces and thought-provoking installations, Do Ho Suh continues to redefine how perceive space and identity are perceived. His work serves as a poignant reminder that home is not merely a physical structure, but an ongoing lived experience shaped by memory and movement.

Artistic Practice

Suh's multidisciplinary practice is rooted in the interplay between physical spaces and psychological states. His works often transform architectural structures into portable, translucent fabric installations that evoke a sense of impermanence and nostalgia. These creations reflect his nomadic life and the emotional weight of migration.

Key elements of his practice include:

• Fabric Architecture: Using hand-stitched polyester and silk to recreate life-sized replicas of homes he has lived in, such as Seoul Home (1999) and Home Within Home Within Home Within Home (2013). These 'suitcase homes' can be folded and transported, symbolising the transient nature of home.
• Rubbings: Works like Rubbing/Loving (2016) memorialise spaces through detailed pencil rubbings that capture every surface of a room, creating tactile records of personal history.
• Interactive Installations: Pieces like Floor (1997–2000), featuring thousands of miniature figurines supporting a glass floor, engage viewers physically while addressing themes of individuality and collectivity.
• Everyday Objects: Sculptures such as water faucets or door handles rendered in translucent fabric highlight the emotional resonance of mundane items.

Suh's meticulous attention to detail extends to smaller thread-based sculptures and drawings that explore similar themes. His use of vibrant colors—often inspired by Korean summer wear—adds emotional depth to his works.

History and Influences

Born in Seoul in 1962 to Suh Se Ok, a respected modern ink painter, Do Ho Suh initially studied Oriental painting at Seoul National University (BFA 1985; MFA 1987). After completing mandatory military service in South Korea, he moved to the United States in 1991 to study at the Rhode Island School of Design (BFA 1994) and Yale University (MFA 1997).

Suh's transition from painting to sculpture was influenced by courses on figuration and pattern-making at RISD. His early works began exploring overlooked spaces within architectural environments. At Yale, he met influential artists like Rirkrit Tiravanija, who influenced his career in New York.

Suh practiced for over a decade in New York before relocating to London in 2010. His peripatetic existence between Seoul, New York, and London informs his exploration of spatial boundaries and cultural displacement in his work.

In a conversation with Anna Dickie for Ocula Magazine, Do Ho Suh reflected on the evolution of his practice. 'My interest in looking at how a work can be transported and the issue of site-specificity started in Korea... My ideas that I had in Korea were probably immature and the study in the US gave the impetus to what came afterwards.'

Major Museum Exhibitions

Suh has exhibited extensively at prestigious institutions worldwide. Notable exhibitions include:

• Almost Home, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C. (2018)
• Home Within Home, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul (2013)
• Perfect Home, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art Kanazawa (2012), Korean Pavilion at the 49th Venice Biennale (2001)

Key Collections

Do Ho Suh's works are held in major museum collections globally:

• Museum of Modern Art, New York
• Tate Modern, London
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art
• Guggenheim Museum
• Museum Voorlinden, The Netherlands

Critical Acclaim

Suh's work has been praised for its ability to evoke emotional responses while addressing complex issues surrounding identity and belonging. Critics have highlighted his innovative use of materials to create poetic meditations on space and memory.

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Ocula | 2025