Soundsuit
Image courtesy of Robilant Voena
Object Label
Since the early 1990s, Nick Cave has been fabricating inventive sculptures out of scavenged materials, which he often overlays with beadwork, stitching, and other embellishments. One of the first, crafted from twigs, was made to be worn and created a rustling sound, which led to the eventual name of such works: Soundsuits. Cave’s sculptures draw from a variety of sources, including both African and Caribbean traditions of masquerade.
In performance, Cave’s work invokes moments of whimsical transcendence while also reflecting a grounded and nuanced understanding of the racialized nature of American society. Cave designed his first Soundsuit in response to the brutal police beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles in 1991. Overcoming the distinctions between “fine art” and “craft,” as well as “performance” and “street” art, Cave’s Soundsuits also serve as a sort of armor, protecting against the violence of racial stereotypes and giving their wearers an outsize, fanciful, and transcendent presence.
Caption
Nick Cave American, born 1959. Soundsuit, 2008. Mixed media, Exhibited ACTUAL dims: 112 x 43 x 35 in. (284.5 x 109.2 x 88.9 cm) figure: estimated dims: 82 × 24 × 24 in. (208.3 × 61 × 61 cm) armature: estimated dims, fully assembled: 60 × 48 × 48 in. (152.4 × 121.9 × 121.9 cm) Mannequin height: 75 in. (190.5 cm) minimum height of cage with top 2 levels of branches removed: 52 in. (132.1 cm) minimum clear. Brooklyn Museum, Mary Smith Dorward Fund, 2009.44a-b. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Image courtesy of Robilant Voena, CUR.2009.44a-b_James_Prinz_Shainman_Gallery_photo_NC08.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Artist
Title
Soundsuit
Date
2008
Medium
Mixed media
Classification
Dimensions
Exhibited ACTUAL dims: 112 x 43 x 35 in. (284.5 x 109.2 x 88.9 cm) figure: estimated dims: 82 × 24 × 24 in. (208.3 × 61 × 61 cm) armature: estimated dims, fully assembled: 60 × 48 × 48 in. (152.4 × 121.9 × 121.9 cm) Mannequin height: 75 in. (190.5 cm) minimum height of cage with top 2 levels of branches removed: 52 in. (132.1 cm) minimum clear
Credit Line
Mary Smith Dorward Fund
Accession Number
2009.44a-b
Rights
© artist or artist's estate
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Frequent Art Questions
What is this?
The whole thing is actually a suit that replicates the sounds of the performer when he or she moves.The artist, Nick Cave, is very famous for this kind of work, which he calls "SoundSuits." His works are hybrid creations that combine elements of sound, performance, color, and costume.Nick Cave has been inspired by ceremonial African body-masks, which you can see examples of in the first floor in our African Art galleries.
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