145 1 s. olive avenue, west palm beach, fl 3340 1 ©2015 norton museum of art

Constructed of twigs, this is one of the first suits Cave created during his investigation into the Soundsuit form. Inspired by the 1991 Rodney King incident, the suit’s construction restricts movement and blocks the wearer’s view of the outside world.

nick cave (American, born 1959)Soundsuit, 2006Afghan, cotton, wire and wood ©Nick Cave. Photo by James Prinz Photography. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.

let's compare Look carefully at the examples of sculpture by different artists Nick Cave and Joseph Beuys.

1. How are these two “suits” different? __________________

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2. How are they the same? _____________________________

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3. Who might wear these suits? _________________________

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4. What type of personality might inhabit each suit?

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5. If the personalities could speak, what would they say?

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6. How can biography or history influence an artist’s work?

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7. What do these artworks communicate about the artists

and their culture? ___________________________________

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Felt Suit evokes a human figure. The thickness of the felt gives volume to the form and the flaring trouser legs suggest a standing person. The soft felt contrasts with the durable materials associated with most sculpture. Beuys may have considered Felt Suit to be a self-portrait.

joseph beuys (German, 1921–1986) Filzanzug (Felt Suit), 1970 Felt and wooden hangerEdition 96/100Gift of Jane and Leonard Korman, 2005.10

THINK

©20

15 no

rton

mu

seum

of art

145

1 s. olive aven

ue, w

est palm beach

, fl 3340

1

nick cave

(Am

erican, born 1959)Soundsuit, 2006A

fghan, cotton, wire and w

ood ©

Nick C

ave. Photo by James Prinz

Photography. Courtesy of the artist

and Jack Shainman G

allery, New

York.

joseph

beuys (G

erman, 1921–1986)

Filzanzug (Felt Suit), 1970 Felt and w

ooden hangerEdition 96/100G

ift of Jane and Leonard Korm

an, 2005.10