Chamber News

Artist Do Ho Suh to speak at Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Do Ho Suh, Korean-born American-based artist, will be the speaker for the second annual Jerome Nerman Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Monday, June 22, in the M.R. and Evelyn Hudson Auditorium of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Johnson County Community College. A reception with the artist precedes the lecture at 6 p.m. Both the lecture and reception are free and open to the public.

    Suh’s work, Some/One (2004), exhibited in the second-floor Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Gallery, has become an icon of the Museum’s permanent collection. Donated by Tony and Marti Oppenheimer and the Oppenheimer Brothers Foundation, Some/One is a meticulously crafted sculpture comprised of thousands of stainless steel dog tags pieced together to form a monumental robe with outstretched arms. Like many of Suh’s works, it explores the relations between individuality, collectivity, anonymity, and identity.

     “Some/One is the most popular work of the museum’s renowned Oppenheimer Collection.  And, as Do Ho Suh is also a long time friend of Kyu Sung Woo (Nerman Museum architect), it is especially exciting to bring him to the museum,” said Bruce Hartman, director, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art.

    Born in 1962 in Seoul, Korea, Suh earned his BFA and MFA in oriental painting from Seoul National University (1987); BFA Painting, Rhode Island School of Design (1994); and MFA Sculpture, Yale University (1997).

     Suh’s work is represented in a number of major museum collections, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Whitney Museum of American Art,  Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Modern Art, and Brooklyn Museum of Art, all in New York; ArtSonje Center, Seoul; Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; and Seattle Art Museum. The artist is the recipient of numerous awards, and he has exhibited in many international exhibitions. He represented Korea in the 49th Venice Biennale.  Suh currently lives and works in New York City and Korea.

    The Jerome Nerman Lecture Series is an annual event underwritten by a generous endowment gift to the Nerman Museum from Central Bank of Kansas City. Central Bank and the Tutera Family (owners of the bank) created the Series as a tribute to Jerry Nerman, chair of Central Bank.

    “For more than 30 years, Jerry has given generously of his time and talent to Central Bank of Kansas City. The bank itself and the family ownership group, the Tuteras, owe a large debt of gratitude for Jerry's service through all these years,” said William M. Dana Jr., president and CEO, Central Bank. “Long after all of us are gone, the Jerome Nerman Lecture Series will live on. That is something that Jerry appreciates, and we feel is a lasting contribution to his legacy.”

    Museum director Bruce Hartman said the lecture series not only honors Nerman but also encourages appreciation for and scholarship in contemporary art.    

    For more information about Do Ho Suh’s lecture, contact the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, 913-469-3000.