BoysCraft

Nick Cave

This work, which is part of a body of works titled Soundsuits, is reminiscent of the costumes in ethnographic museum displays. Its physical presence has a magical effect that ties it to identity, gender and race-related conflicts, and challenges the traditional distinction between art, design and fashion. These costumes were originally designed for performances and installations in which they appeared as sculptures in motion. Cave makes reference to traditional African rituals, during which men mediate between the community and the world of spirits. He perceives the artmaking process as a transformative ritual, which redefines the social history of the artist as a black man of African origin.

Born in Missouri, 1959; lives and works in Chicago