Do Ho Suh’s monumental solo exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), Seoul is a sweeping journey through over 500 pieces of his compelling creations. Open until February 9th, 2027, this exhibition encapsulates four decades of Suh’s evolution in exploring the intricate themes of home, personal history, and migration. This comprehensive “exhibition” succinctly flows through the artist’s transformative journey from his early experimental phase to his iconic fabric installations, realizing a spatial narrative that bridges personal recollection with collective identity.
The Genesis of Portable Spaces: Childhood to Profession
The exhibition initiates its journey with ‘Seed Bank,’ a compilation preceding Suh’s professional endeavors. This segment, situated in a corridor leading to the galleries, presents early wooden carvings of sea creatures sculpted in his childhood hanok, aligning with projects from his university years and early endeavors predating his venture to the United States. These artifacts underscore Suh’s nascent intrigue in the interplay between objects and spatial realms, an intrigue which prefigures his signature fabric architecture.
At Gallery 3’s threshold, the work Small Gate (2017) vividly reconstructs the gate of Suh’s Seongbuk-dong hanok, not only serving as an entrance but also symbolizing the thematic focus on memory, transition, and movement. The gallery further showcases around 200 drawings, products of Suh’s innovative collaboration with the STPI workshop in Singapore. Utilizing gelatin tissue and handmade paper, Suh crafts drawings where embedded threads lend a dimensional material depth, transcending traditional planar constraints.
Tracing Architectural Memories: Exploration of Past and Self
Gallery 4 is dedicated to the Rubbing/Loving series, where Suh captures the residual memory of architectural spaces through physical imprints. By rubbing Hanji and paper against the surfaces of places significant to him, Suh connects the physical act of taking an imprint with an emotional attachment to place. Rubbing/Loving: Seoul Home (2013–2022) merges familial nostalgia with artistic expression, while Rubbing/Loving: Company Housing of Gwangju Theater (2012) expands this technique to encapsulate broader shared histories and identity.
Domesticity Reimagined as Personal Narrative
Gallery 5 presents cornerstone works of Suh’s exploration of spatial memory. Perfect Home (2024) intricately reconstructs Suh’s London residence, marrying architectural details from various homes, emphasizing not just Suh’s personal journey, but an exploration of global interconnectivity. The installation, Who Am We? (2000), complements this narrative by arranging yearbook portraits into a towering 15-meter-high tapestry, making both the individual and collective existence tangible. Meanwhile, Floor (1997–2000) offers a visceral experience, with visitors walking over a transparent platform filled with miniature figures, reinforcing the connection between past experiences and identity.
Crafting a Metropolis of Memory
Outside Gallery 5, Nest/s (2024) unfolds as a 22 meters long spatial narrative integrating architectural elements from Suh’s diverse residences into a singular imagined urban landscape. This assemblage creates neither a tangible building nor a recognizable city, but rather a shared spatial experience. The project intertwines personal recollection with a broader architectural discourse on mobility and impermanence, continually echoing themes of history and identity.
The Convergence of Body and Architecture
In the MMCA Studio, diminutive models accompany profound works such as Memory of Love (2026), centering on family and fatherhood. By fusing fabric from familial clothing into his own coat, Suh invents a tactile memory-archive that travels with the body. In doing so, Suh metaphorically transforms garments into portable homes, intertwining body, recollection, and architectural forms in a singular artistic expression.
For more insights into capturing memories through art, explore how memories deserve commemoration with photo-books, highlighting another form of preserving personal history.
If you’re intrigued by themed art installations, discover how 48 Pillows offers a peaceful exploration through a different artistic lens.
Source: designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
What themes does Do Ho Suh explore in his work?
Do Ho Suh explores themes of home, personal history, and migration in his work. His exhibition at MMCA Seoul encapsulates four decades of his evolution in these themes, from early experimental phases to iconic fabric installations.
What is significant about the gallery displaying Perfect Home?
Gallery 5 presents cornerstone works of Suh’s exploration of spatial memory. Perfect Home intricately reconstructs Suh’s London residence, highlighting not just his personal journey but also an exploration of global interconnectivity.
What is the length of the Nest/s installation?
The Nest/s installation is a 22 meters long spatial narrative. It integrates architectural elements from Suh’s diverse residences into a singular imagined urban landscape.