Artists speak: a monthly feature that introduces contemporary artists through their words and artwork.Do-Ho Suh Do-Ho Suh is a Korean sculpture and installation artist. He was born in Seoul, Korea in 1962. After earning his BFA and MFA in Oriental Painting from Seoul National University, and fulfilling his term of mandatory service in the South Korean military, Suh relocated to the Born 1962 in Seoul, Korea Lives and Works Seoul, Korea and New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. Media and Materials sculpture, installation, public art, fabric, figurines Influences urban life, childhood memories, yearbooks, the military, Korean history, minimalism minimalism, schools of contemporary art and music, with their origins in the 1960s, that have emphasized simplicity and objectivity. Minimalism in the Visual Arts About the Artist After fulfilling his term of mandatory service in the Korean military, Do-Ho Suh relocated re·lo·cate v. re·lo·cat·ed, re·lo·cat·ing, re·lo·cates v.tr. To move to or establish in a new place: relocated the business. v.intr. to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. to attend art school. Best known for his large scale and site-specific sculptures, Suh's work draws attention to the ways viewers occupy and inhabit in·hab·it v. in·hab·it·ed, in·hab·it·ing, in·hab·its v.tr. 1. To live or reside in. 2. To be present in; fill: Old childhood memories inhabit the attic. public space. In several of the artist's floor sculptures, viewers are encouraged to walk on surfaces composed of thousands of miniature human figures. The work, Some/One, is composed of thousands of military dog tags dog tag n. 1. A metal identification disk attached to a dog's collar. 2. A metal identification tag worn on a chain around the neck by members of the armed forces. Noun 1. . Evokes the way an individual soldier is part of a larger troop or military body. Suh's work addresses the transnational individual's dilemma of home and displacement. Whether addressing the dynamic of personal space versus public space, or exploring the fine line between the individual and the collective, Suh's sculptures continually question the identity of the individual in today's increasingly global society. Do-Ho Suh "I was asked to do some public sculpture in this public place and I started to think about what public space means and what is the meaning of public art or monuments, I tried to rethink re·think tr. & intr.v. re·thought , re·think·ing, re·thinks To reconsider (something) or to involve oneself in reconsideration. re this whole notion of monument ... If there's one statue at the plaza of a hero who helped or protected our country, there are hundreds of thousands of individuals who helped him and worked with him, and there's no recognition for them. I started to think about what's the meaning of that public space and what's the meaning of the public art monument. Usually it's larger than life larg·er than life adj. Very impressive or imposing: "This is a person of surpassing integrity; a man of the utmost sincerity; somewhat larger than life" Joyce Carol Oates. size and high up there is either a general or somebody who is important. And I wanted to flip that conventional format. I also wanted to make something that's about the people who use that place. The anonymous everyday people who pass through that space." Discussion Questions * What makes public art public? * What are the commemorative com·mem·o·ra·tive adj. Honoring or preserving the memory of another. n. Something that honors or preserves the memory of another. com·mem monuments or public artworks in your community? * What other ways do we commemorate com·mem·o·rate tr.v. com·mem·o·rat·ed, com·mem·o·rat·ing, com·mem·o·rates 1. To honor the memory of with a ceremony. See Synonyms at observe. 2. To serve as a memorial to. important events or people of the past other than with public sculptures? * What are the important issues and questions a community should consider when selecting and creating a public sculpture or memorial? * What are the differences between memorials that commemorate tragic events or heroes as opposed to those that celebrate heroic events or figures? * What defines personal and public space? Can a public space be personal and a personal space be public? * Suh talks about his interest in the idea of individual identity and its relationship to collective identity. What are the ways you define yourself as an individual? What are the ways you define yourself as part of a collective? Activities * Create a memorial for a current event or contemporary figure in your community. How will you design it and what will you say? In what medium will you realize your memorial? * Identify a current competition for a public memorial or monument Create a proposal based on a collaborative planning and decision-making process. * Design a public work of art for a vacant parcel of land in your community that expresses the identity of the community in which you live. * Think about how you define your personal space. How does that space change with close family members or friends as opposed to those you interact with in public places? Consider how you might visually represent these relationships? Create a work of art that illustrates your idea of personal space and the space between you and those around you. * Create a self-portrait or other visual representation of yourself that simultaneously illustrates your image as an individual, as well as your image of yourself as part of a collective. Art:21--ART IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY is a national education resource, presenting diverse contemporary artist to a board audience through its Emmy-nominated, primetime, national PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, series; Website and Online Lesson Library; Educator's Guide, Companion Book; and extensive outreach programs. |
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