Soundsuit

Artist Nick Cave (American, born 1959)

Date2012

MediumMixed media sculptural suit including beaded and sequined garments, fabric, and metal with a display mannequin armature

Dimensions109 3/4 × 24 × 12 inches (278.8 × 61 × 30.5 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase with funds provided by Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Levy, Susan Willetts and Alan K. Pritz, Cathy and Philip Solomons, Diane and Ed Schmults, Pamela L. and Peter S. Voss, Jan and Lawrence Dorman, Friends of African American Arts, Dr. William Goldiner, Dr. David M. Hillenbrand, Rosaleen Roxburgh, Ted and Linda Ruby, Marti and Austin Sullivan, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Young, and the Jack W. Lindsay Acquisition Endowment Fund.

Object number2017.6.a-.b

On View

Not on view

Copyright© Nick Cave. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York. The images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextNick Cave is an artist, dancer, and “messenger” known for his sculptural soundsuits—wearable constructions that are fabricated to the scale of his own body. Cave’s soundsuits can operate as a second skin, meant to conceal race, gender, and class. His first soundsuit was created in response to the Rodney King beating by LA police in 1991. Cave’s work reflects on his own identity as Black man and questions how to navigate public and private domains. The soundsuits protect and transform one’s identity, disguising race and gender in an attempt to eliminate prejudicial prejudgment.

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