Nick Cave's Soundsuits

By Lauri Apple in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 8, 2009 5:20PM

School of the Art Institute prof and performance artist Nick Cave - not to be confused with the other Nick Cave - is making some headlines 'round the multi-mediasphere lately with his Soundsuits: brilliantly colored sculpture-costumes that are like wearable instruments, in that they make music when the wearer moves. The suits themselves are not news: Cave has been making them for several years, mainly out of second-hand objects, and showing them in exhibitions. But Cave's show at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts -- running through July 5, and featuring 40 soundsuits -- is news, especially as this is the largest-ever showing of his work. On Sunday, Cave and his creations were profiled by the New York Times, which highlighted the suits' double function as both art pieces and dance costumes. The Times includes some demonstration video footage on its website so you can see just how these soundsuits work.

If that's not enough soundsuit action for you, Australian pop culture blog Pedestrian.tv has posted some great shots of Cave decked out in his shiniest noisewear. How many Pedestrians, do you think, were surprised when they clicked on the post to find a "Nick Cave" dressed in a bright, festive costume instead of a dark "I write lyrics about Karl Marx squeezing his carbunkles" suit?

Image by Jack Shaiman Gallery.