Sculptural soundsuits camouflage the human form

Thu 17 Jul 2025

Nick Cave reminds us that change and transformation are always possible. HEARD is comprised of 15 ‘soundsuits’ made from everyday materials — raffia, buttons and beads, that can be worn or displayed as sculptures or brought to life in a performance; when performed, two dancers give each horse its own character and expression. Individuals work together to become part of something larger — firstly as a pair, and then as part of a ‘herd’.

The work hints at the way we can clothe our bodies to reveal or conceal information about ourselves. HEARD is also evocative of the joyful act of playing dress-ups and draws on longstanding performative traditions, from the abundant ornamentation of African ceremonial costume to the elaborate garb of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras performers.

Cave is considered one of the leading African-American artists working today, renowned for his assemblage costumes that are activated for performances, documented in videos and displayed as sculptures, aiming to address the broad issues of ceremony, ritual, myth and self in his works.

‘Soundsuits’ 1992-ongoing is Cave’s signature series of artworks; the term ‘Soundsuit’ was coined by the artist to describe his intricate sculptural forms that completely cover the wearer and the way that the materials of these heavily decorated suits emanate sounds when in motion. The ‘Soundsuit’ camouflages the human form, eliminating markers of identity such as race, gender, class and sexual identification, thereby protecting the wearer from discrimination. By creating costumes that facilitate physical transformation, in his terms Cave asks his audience to ‘look without judgement’, and to question their understanding of complex concepts of identity.

The artist brings together a multitude of global references within his artworks but does this in such a way to create experiences that are also uniquely personal by mixing every day materials together with signs and symbols from a multitude of cultures. His works also have a performative aspect that relate to his formal dance training in the 1960s with Alvin Ailey (1931-1989), who was celebrated for his unique choreography incorporating many styles of dance including from African-American street culture. Cave’s performances engage a range of dancers and musicians and use improvisation to draw on their diverse cultural backgrounds. This approach ensures that each time the works are performed they reflect the cultures of the presenting city.

Watch | Nick Cave takes you behind-the-scenes of Brisbane's HEARD performance

As a performance, Cave’s ‘Soundsuits’ HEARD involves 30 dancers, dressed in the costumes carrying out loosely choreographed movements to live music. The artist provides notes for the arc of choreography and music that the performers then improvise from. Cave’s innovative use of materials adds to the vitality of the work, the layers of raffia makes distinct swishing sounds as the dancers move. The effect is mirrored visually by the swirling of colours. Over the course of the performance, as the music quickens, the dancers shift from gracefully gliding to energetically thrashing through the space as the head and the body of each horse breaks apart to dance separately in a state of reverie.

The work’s title takes two forms, when the work is installed in an exhibition space it is entitled HEARD. When the work is performed with dancers and musicians the work is entitled 'HEARD•[CITY]', when performed locally, its title is HEARD•BRISBANE.

View Nick Cave’s HEARD 2012 in 'Wonderstruck' at the Gallery of Modern Art until 6 October 2025, delve into the captivating works on display with our weekly highlights, or embark on the journey of a Wonderstruck Wonderer with our digital interactive experience.

Wonderstruck
28 June – 6 October 2025
Gallery of Modern Art
Gallery 1.1 (The Fairfax Gallery), Gallery 1.2 & Gallery 1.3 (Eric and Marion Taylor Gallery)
Brisbane, Australia
Free entry