Sense of Sound - Nick Cave.

Embroidery - The Textile Art Magazine.

Vol No 54. 

Artist: Nice Cave

Title: Sense of Sound.

Nick Caves extensive series of outlandish and vibrant sculptures, are a pure feast for the senses. Formally described as 'textiles meets modern dance' his work combines aspects of  intense colour, movement, material and music, to create a whole new genre of sculpture dimension.

Many of Caves Sculpted creations, like the ones pictured to the right, are made from the use of a wide variety of materials, from unique items to throwaways and rubbish.. There is no object in Caves eye that is seen as unfit for art, from twigs, toys, buttons, ornaments and bells to the extreme of funeral wreaths, wigs and fake fur, in Nicks work 'One man's rubbish is another man's treasure'.

At first stage Cave's work is seen as an extension of sculptures, however his designs are taken to a whole new level , through a transformation of a visual delight into a an orchestra of sound, a transitions he entitles 'Sound Suits' giving his work a whole new lease of life as wearable pieces of art.

Cave first stumbled upon his Sound Suit creation in response to the 1992 Rodney King beating, where an African-American construction worker became nationally known after being beaten by Los Angeles Police officers. His aim was to find a material that would resonate his dismay, the twigs he found on the ground on the local park, to him resembled the notion that society discards and devaluated its citizens. Caves first thaughts where to create a traditional sculputre, however after his project blossomed he realised that his statement would be broader if he was infact to wear the art he created. It was then that he discovered that the rustling of the twigs created by the movements of the body, added an audible aspect to his work. While the oddly shaped body suits hid the person inside, masking there identity within the art.  It was from this inital suit that his collection evolved.

 very much enjoy Cave's outlandish sense of colour and shape, and his design which encases the identiy of the suiter. Each suit not only witholds the nature of a person but a detailed story.