Spiked
In 1992 artist Nick Cave sat in a Chicago park, still reeling from news of the Rodney King beating and ensuing Los Angeles riots. Feeling Vulnerable and that he -- like any African American man -- could be targeted, he gathered Sticks from the ground. At the studio, he turned these sticks into his first Soundsuit, a wearable Sculpture and defensive shell. Often seen as a celebration of movement and material, Cave's Soundsuits mask the body, erasing identity. Now, more than twenty years later, Cave takes us inside the belly of one of his iconic sculptures with this immersive installation Until -- a play on the phrase "innocent until proven guilty" or, in this case, "guilty until proven innocent." Cave's work began as a protective response to violence, and, with Until, he tackles the recent deaths of African Americans in the United States -- Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Oscar Grant... the list goes on -- eulogizing these victims while providing a platform for civil discourse, debate, and, ultimately, hope.
Until began with a question Cave asked himself: Is there racism in heaven? Instead of providing a direct answer, Cave offers us an experience. Across this space, visitors traverse a sculptural forest of metallic lawn ornaments --punctuated by images of guns, bullets, and targets, positioning us all as culpable, vulnerable, and potentially under attack --before arriving at a crystal cloud topped by a garden of found ceramic birds, metal flowers, and black-face lawn jockeys. By removing the lawn jockeys (cast-iron figurines and racist remnants) from circulation, Cave transforms them into agents for change, placing beaded nets in their hands as dream catchers. Our journey through Until continues to a cliff wall constructed of millions of woven plastic beads, an immersive video, and a metaphoric cleansing in a Mylar waterfall.
Until is also a site for performances and community engagement, with the immersive installation becoming a stage for testimonials, music, dance, poetry, and discussion. In the end, Cave takes off the protective mask his Soundsuits. Once provided, offering an environment to discuss important issues in a space that is at Once Seductive, provocative, and -- ultimately -- optimistic.
Spiked
In 1992 artist Nick Cave sat in a Chicago park, still reeling from news of the Rodney King beating and ensuing Los Angeles riots. Feeling Vulnerable and that he -- like any African American man -- could be targeted, he gathered Sticks from the ground. At the studio, he turned these sticks into his first Soundsuit, a wearable Sculpture and defensive shell. Often seen as a celebration of movement and material, Cave's Soundsuits mask the body, erasing identity. Now, more than twenty years later, Cave takes us inside the belly of one of his iconic sculptures with this immersive installation Until -- a play on the phrase "innocent until proven guilty" or, in this case, "guilty until proven innocent." Cave's work began as a protective response to violence, and, with Until, he tackles the recent deaths of African Americans in the United States -- Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Oscar Grant... the list goes on -- eulogizing these victims while providing a platform for civil discourse, debate, and, ultimately, hope.
Until began with a question Cave asked himself: Is there racism in heaven? Instead of providing a direct answer, Cave offers us an experience. Across this space, visitors traverse a sculptural forest of metallic lawn ornaments --punctuated by images of guns, bullets, and targets, positioning us all as culpable, vulnerable, and potentially under attack --before arriving at a crystal cloud topped by a garden of found ceramic birds, metal flowers, and black-face lawn jockeys. By removing the lawn jockeys (cast-iron figurines and racist remnants) from circulation, Cave transforms them into agents for change, placing beaded nets in their hands as dream catchers. Our journey through Until continues to a cliff wall constructed of millions of woven plastic beads, an immersive video, and a metaphoric cleansing in a Mylar waterfall.
Until is also a site for performances and community engagement, with the immersive installation becoming a stage for testimonials, music, dance, poetry, and discussion. In the end, Cave takes off the protective mask his Soundsuits. Once provided, offering an environment to discuss important issues in a space that is at Once Seductive, provocative, and -- ultimately -- optimistic.