Soundsuit
Artist
Nick Cave
(American, b.1959)
CultureAmerican
Date2010
MediumMixed media
Dimensions107 x 42 x 42 in. (271.8 x 106.7 x 106.7 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase with funds from the Friends of African American Art and Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., by exchange
Object number2012.4
Collections
On View
Chrysler Museum of Art, Gallery 223
Label TextNick Cave American, b. 1959 Soundsuit, 2010 Mixed media Nick Cave’s soundsuits are made out of diverse materials—from twigs, sequins, and buttons to toys, metal birds, and flowers. They reference puppetry, suits of armor, and extreme fashion. Although his work is displayed as sculpture, similar works were worn by Cave in elaborate performances. Those soundsuits connect his practice with masquerade traditions across West Africa, and Caribbean and Brazilian carnival customs. The suits appear cheerful, especially because of the toys, but their exuberance often hints at more somber themes. Cave made his first soundsuit during the Rodney King trial and Los Angeles race riots of 1992, when the artist was reflecting on his own identity as an African American. He explained, “I built this sort of suit of armor, and by putting it on, I realized that I could a make a sound from moving in it… It made me think of ideas around protest, and how we should be a voice and speak louder.” While offering the wearer protection, escape, and freedom from daily bias, the soundsuits also combine references to the visibility and invisibility of peoples. What parts of ourselves do we project to the world and which ones do we hide? Museum purchase with funds from the Friends of African American Art and Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., by exchange 2012.4 ProvenanceNick Cave, 2010; Jack Shainman Gallery, New York, NY, 2010-2012; Chrysler Museum of Art purchase with funds donated by the Friends of African-American Art and Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. by exchange, 2012.Exhibition History"Hand+Made: The Performative Impulse in Art and Craft," Contemporary Art Museum, Houston, Texas, May 15 - July 25, 2010. "Remix Redux: A Fresh Mix For Our Modern And Contemporary Galleries," Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia, August 15 - December 30, 2012.
1979
