Soundsuits

By: Nick Cave, 2006

beads, flowers, beads, sequins, other discarded second-hand materials

Nick Cave is a man of many talents, as an American fabric sculptor, dancer, and performance artist. He is most famously known for his Soundsuit exhibit. These soundsuits were wearable fabric sculptures constructed of bright colors and loud designs. Cave, himself, as well as other dancers wore them, transforming into blurs filled with color and sound being used for performances and video works. When people first have the opportunity to view Cave’s pieces, they may be taken back by his uncommon and crazy form of art. While first looking at a piece, one may become focused on the various colors and patterns causing the person underneath the fabric to be forgotten about. Once someone is inside that costume, it’s impossible to know if the wearer is male or female, or white or black. One of more recent works, where he "created an elaborate window installation that encourages people to take a judgement-free view of the world" for Barneys New York holiday window can be found here (Barneys New York). Below are images of some of Cave's other works.

This artwork was placed in the book following Rankine's interpretation of how people viewed Serena Williams during her tennis matches and how unfairly she was treated during many of them. The black, flower covered bodysuit bent over can relate to Williams by being a beautiful athlete, yet still frustrated with the way she is treated unfairly, on and off of the tennis court. This is also relatable on a larger scale to all African Americans, how the bodysuit suggests that they are exhausted from discrimination every day. This photograph was taken in front of a plain white background bringing attention to the piece itself instead of what might be going on around it. The way Rankine described Williams’ situation, she used the quote “I feel most colored when I am thrown against a sharp white background” by Zora Neale Hurston. This quote captures the feeling of African Americans and being in one of Cave's 'bodysuits', which can hide that feeling of not belonging somewhere.

Video Links:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpNcmh3rxko
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx1_zBkqcUM

Resources:

• "Nick Cave - Jack Shainman Gallery." Nick Cave - Jack Shainman Gallery. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2017. <http://www.jackshainman.com/artists/nick-cave/>
• "Nick Cave | Love Peace Joy Project | Barneys New York." The Window. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2017. <http://thewindow.barneys.com/holiday-2016-nick-cave/>
• "Daily Dose Pick: Nick Cave’s Soundsuits." Flavorwire. N.p., 10 Mar. 2010. Web. 04 Feb. 2017. <http://flavorwire.com/76165/nick-caves-soundsuits>

~ Research by Mads Miles & Alexis Mitchell