Nick Cave: 'Meet Me at the Center of the Earth'

A 'soundsuit.' (Credit: James Prinz)

By Kellie Hwang
Metromix

During hard times, art can be a feel-good escape from your worries.

That's one of the central ideas behind Nick Cave's exhibit, "Meet Me at the Center of the Earth," visiting Scottsdale beginning Thursday, July 30.

The wearable pieces are a mix of costuming, masquerading, culture and performing arts. The exhibit title is meant to connect people to those diverse elements.

"I want this exhibition to create a sort of place people can gather and have a different experience," Cave said. "I want them to feel like they're in a dream state and be transformed, and leave feeling that they have experienced something unfamiliar."

The Chicago-based artist is an associate professor and chairman of the fashion department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He started creating what he calls "soundsuits" mainly as a result of the 1991 beating of Black motorist Rodney King by LA police officers and the riots the next year after the officers were acquitted of using excessive force.

"Back in 1992, I made my first one with materials of discarded value," he said. "The incident forced me to look at myself and step out of the privacy of my own space, outside, where I could be victimized and profiled."

Many of the suits conceal the wearer's face, which prevents viewers from employing preconceived notions of race, class and gender.

Since then, Cave has crafted more than 50 suits, most made from such everyday items as beads, old bottle caps, vintage doilies, leaves, rusted iron and fabric. The detailing on each piece is intricate and the work is tedious.

Initially, the suits weren't intended to make sounds. When Cave put on his first suit, which was constructed of twigs, it made a "click, click" sound when he moved. This added another dimension to the performances.

Details, such as hundreds of sequinlike buttons, are intentionally sewn on loosely so they will clink together. Suits made of raffia-like material and hair create a "swoosh, swoosh" noise when the wearer twists around.

"The suits bring together all of these beautiful, hallucinatory and glamorous elements," said Claire Schneider, senior curator at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and implementing curator for the exhibit. "They are made out of mostly recycled materials, which brings up the idea of environmental consciousness, too. ... He brings all of these ideas together, which is not a simple thing to have done, and it's really exciting."

Cave's exhibit at SMoCA will have about 40 soundsuits.

The artist, a former Alvin Ailey dancer, has incorporated movement in several ways. The exhibit includes video showing the construction of some of the suits, as well as performance footage of Cave and other dancers moving the suits. Activities relating to the exhibit will take place this fall.

"There are few artists that are strong in a primary and secondary field . . . and we want to celebrate this multidisciplinary spirit," Schneider said.

The soundsuits explore culture and fashion, ranging from traditional African ceremonial details to high-end couture influences, making each piece unique. The fashion aspect also will be incorporated in the activities the museum is planning for fall.

In the end, though, Cave hopes people just come out to enjoy his work.

"Particularly now, in a time where we need to something to celebrate, art is there," Cave said. "This is an opportunity for me to really provide an escape, for people to celebrate diversity and cultural intersections. It's been quite rewarding and liberating to see community be able to come together."

Add a comment