While many of you probably think we’re talking about this Nick Cave, we’re not, as his Chicago doppelganger is just as intriguing and has taken the US art world by storm over the past decade.  Cave’s wearable sculptures merge two of his favorite worlds: modern dance and found objects.  Each costume is named specifically for the sound it emits while worn and is comprised of organic materials, elaborate patterns and varied embellishments.  While Cave’s work has a touch of haute couture, it’s most reminiscent of ritualistic dressing.  Through his professional past at The Alvin Ailey Dance Company coupled with his now ten-year old fashion line, Cave makes sense of these two worlds in Recent Soundsuits, his latest exhibition at the  Jack Shainman Gallery. Each suit beautifully conceals the wearer’s identity, blurring gender and race while exaggerating sound and texture.  This anonymity provides a stepping stone into the “realm of dream and fantasy,” bringing new meaning to the sentiment of patterns having pitch.

Each of Cave’s furry costumes look like couture versions of the famed monsters from Where the Wild Things Are, a cult children’s classic from the 60’s.  Take a look at the trailer for the highly anticipated film that’s releasing this Fall.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwupTQt9zxY]

A short video documenting Nick Cave’s design process.

Additional contributions by Emily Gup.