Nick Cave's Soundsuits: Wearable Sculptures That Turn the Body into a Stage
In 1992, Nick Cave designed the inaugural Soundsuit in Chicago as a reaction to the beating of Rodney King and the subsequent acquittal of the police officers involved. He collected twigs from Grant Park to create a full-body sculpture that produced sound with movement, acting as both a protest symbol and an emotional barrier that obscured aspects of race, gender, and class. These wearable sculptures, crafted from various materials, highlight the use of discarded items. Cave's artistic endeavors include public performances, notably Heard NY in 2013, featuring 30 dancers in Soundsuits at Grand Central Terminal. His work has been embraced by prominent institutions, focusing on themes of identity, community, and shared experiences.
Key facts
- Nick Cave created the first Soundsuit in Chicago in 1992 following the Rodney King beating and the acquittal of the police officers involved.
- The first Soundsuit was made from hundreds of twigs gathered in Grant Park.
- Soundsuits are wearable sculptures that envelop the human figure and are made from materials such as fabric, wire, raffia, feathers, beads, buttons, sequins, plastic toys, ceramic objects, synthetic fibers, rugs, and quilts.
- Cave describes the suit as a 'second skin' that hides gender, race, and class, and as an 'emotional shield'.
- Heard NY in 2013 featured 30 dancers in horse-like Soundsuits at Grand Central Terminal with live music.
- Up Right Chicago was presented during the Chicago Architecture Biennial and included reflective 'Stage Buoy' sculptures by Studio Gang.
- The Let Go was presented at the Park Avenue Armory in 2018 and involved Soundsuit-clad dancers, live musicians, DJs, and singers.
- Soundsuits are held in collections including the National Gallery of Canada, National Gallery of Victoria, Smithsonian American Art Museum, and Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Studio Gang
- Jack Shainman Gallery
- Grand Central Terminal
- Park Avenue Armory
- Chicago Architecture Biennial
- National Gallery of Canada
- National Gallery of Victoria
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- Denver Art Museum
- Robilant Voena
- SolidNature
- designboom
- The Obama Presidential Center
- MK&G
- Stiftung Hamburger Kunstsammlungen
- Fox Family Foundation
- NGV Foundation
- James Renwick Alliance
- Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
- The Buddy Taub Foundation
Locations
- Chicago
- United States
- Grant Park
- New York
- Detroit
- Grand Central Terminal
- Park Avenue Armory
- Ottawa
- Canada
- Melbourne
- Australia
- Los Angeles
- Denver
- Hamburg
- Germany