Home is where the art is

In 2018 a small house crash-landed on top of one of central London’s busiest streets. Did you miss it? Well, it’s still there, perched precariously on a disused footbridge near Liverpool Street station.

It all sounds and looks very Wizard Of Oz but, of course, this wonky wooden house wasn’t whisked there by a tornado. It’s an installation from South Korean artist Do Ho Suh. Titled Bridging Home, it was co-commissioned by Art Night and Sculpture In The City to represent the migrant history of the East End and the City of London.

Now living in London, Do Ho Suh created this to-scale replica of his childhood home – a traditional Hanok-style house. Sadly, you can’t get into it for a good snoop around because the footbridge it’s on has been blocked off. You can understand why: accompanied by an attractive bamboo garden, it’s like a squatter’s paradise. If it was listed on the property market you’d be talking £250k or more. ‘For me, a building is more than just space,’ Do Ho Suh has stated. ‘It is not only physical but also metaphorical and psychological. In my work I want to draw out these intangible qualities of energy, history, life and memory. And while Bridging Home comes from personal experience, I hope it is something a lot of people can relate to.’ They certainly seem to. Originally intended to last six months, the house has proved such a draw it’s enjoyed an extended run. It’s finally planned to disappear in early October, though, so come and see it while you can.