Installation
mixed media including black mother of pearl buttons, embroidery floss, upholstery, metal armature
Nick Cave’s monumental installation Speak Louder invokes one of the artist’s favorite dictums: In order to be heard, you have to speak louder. The work unites seven of Cave’s iconic Soundsuits in one powerful ensemble – under a shimmering cloak of pearlescent buttons bringing individuals together into a figurative landscape. Cave draws strong visual parallels between the collected Soundsuits and the jazz-funeral processions of New Orleans, which often feature similarly spectacular outfits and lively brass marching bands. Here the figures’ tuba-shaped heads have been silenced, the mouths sealed off with dark fabric, imbuing the work with an ominous quality. Positioned in an array, but unified as one, Speak Louder forms a dynamic chorus, emphasizing the resilience of community. It speaks somberly to our losses – and encourages us to continue fighting for a better future.