Do Ho Suh, Paratrooper, 2011
Etching on STPI paper
35 x 25 cm (visible), 38 x 49 x 4cm (framed)
Condition: Good, with foxing and mould visible throughout the work.
Edition 15 of 30.
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Do Ho Suh (South Korean, b. 1962) is a contemporary artist known for his work in sculpture and installation. He studied traditional painting at Seoul National University before continuing his education at the Rhode Island School of Design and Yale University. His practice developed across Korea, the United States and Europe, and he is currently based in London.
Suh is best known for his large-scale fabric installations that recreate architectural spaces such as homes, corridors and staircases. Using translucent materials, he explores themes of memory, identity and the idea of home, often reflecting his own experiences of migration. His works blur the boundary between sculpture and architecture, creating immersive environments that invite viewers to consider how space shapes personal and collective experience.
The Paratrooper is a recurring motif in Do Ho Suh’s career, exploring themes of identity, displacement and the collective.
The Individual vs. The Collective: The parachute is often composed of "threads of connection"—representing the thousands of people (family, friends, ancestors) who support an individual. The paratrooper represents the artist himself (or any "nomadic" person) being "dropped" into a new environment (like Suh moving from Korea to New York/London).
The Red Thread: In East Asian culture, the "Red Thread of Fate" symbolises a predestined connection between people. For Suh, these red lines represent In-Yeon (the Korean concept of providence or fate) and the "karmic" ties that bind us to our past.
(Photographed in April 2026)