Soundsuits created by Nick Cave,  American, born 1959 

 

 

The artist thought of these originally as protective suits against the fate of Rodney King, 1965-2012, American, who was beaten in 1991 to within an inch of his life by officers of the Los Angeles Police Department after a high-speed chase.  53 people died in riots which followed the acquittal of the policemen.

The artist proposes these suits to mask identity.  He calls them soundsuits because of the noise made by the first one he ever created.   

Protective cloth.

 

 

 

Soundsuit, 2008, fabric, fiberglass, sequins,  metal. 

On exhibit in 2019 at the Barnes Collection, Philadelphia in the 10th year of an exhibition: 30 Americans

 

 

 

Soundsuit, synthetic hair, fiberglass, metal, 2008.

On exhibit in 2019 at the Barnes Collection, Philadelphia in the 10th year of an exhibition: 30 Americans

 

 

 

 

Soundsuit, 2008, fabric, fiberglass, metal. 

On exhibit in 2019 at the Barnes Collection, Philadelphia in the 10th year of an exhibition: 30 Americans

 

 

 

 

 

 Soundsuit, mixed media, 2009.  Smithsonian Musuem of American Art, Washington, DC. 

 

 

 

 

 

Soundsuit, 2011, found objects, knit head and bodysuit, and mannequin,

The artist transforms discarded objects – ceramic in this case – into something which, with other elements, is beautiful and intriguing. 

The museum notes that this creation stands for marginalized populations, repeatedly targeted by the forces of law and order, whose individual identity he disguises here with an elaborate headdress to prevent easy targeting.

 MOMA, NY

 

 

 

Soundsuit #20, 2005, found sequins and handbeading on fabric.  Private collection on loan to the Whitney, NY in 2019/2020.  

 

 

 

 

 

Soundsuit, 2013, mixed media including mannequin, fabric, ceramic birds, metal flowers and antique grammaphone.  Nick Cave, American born 1959.  Baltimore Museum of Art