Soundsuit

Nick Cave creates his Soundsuits out of diverse materials—from twigs, sequins, and buttons to toys, metal birds, and flowers. Although this Soundsuit is displayed as sculpture, others can be worn in performances that recall Dogon masquerade, Caribbean Carnivale, and fashion runways. The suits appear cheerful, 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 protection, escape, and freedom from daily discrimination, the Soundsuits also combine references to many cultures and traditions, evoking a world where race and gender do not matter—where people are just people.

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