Nick Cave and Philippe Van Cauteren I In Conversation I Xavier Hufkens
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- Опубликовано: 9 май 2024
- Nick Cave discusses his exhibition, The Devil - A Life (5 April-11 May 2024), with the artistic director of S.M.A.K., Philippe Van Cauteren.
“I think the Devil gave me a kind of disguise. Even though I didn’t really know at the time of making them, it was ultimately a way of coming to certain realisations about things happening in my life. So, it was never me, but it was in the end very much so.”
'The Devil - A Life' (2020-24) by Nick Cave is a series of seventeen glazed ceramic figurines that tells the cradle-to-grave story of the Devil. More everyman than fearsome Antichrist, he is an allegorical character who experiences the vicissitudes of life in a very human way. Presented in Belgium for the first time, this narrative work is a visual expression of the artist’s abiding interest in religion as a catalyst for a deeper and more creative approach to life.
Nick Cave (b. 1957, Victoria, Australia) is a singer, songwriter, poet, lyricist, author, screenwriter and composer. Born in Warracknabeal in rural Victoria, he was drawn to the arts from an early age. Cave studied painting at the Caulfield Institute of Technology (Monash University, Melbourne) in 1976 before abandoning his studies to pursue music, relocating to Berlin and London in the 1980s. He rose to prominence fronting The Birthday Party (1973-83) before forming his current band, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, in 1984. Cave’s first major body of visual work, The Devil - A Life (2020-24), was born out of his recent interest in ceramics and was shown in the exhibition We at the Sara Hildén Art Museum in Finland (2022-23), together with work by Thomas Houseago and Brad Pitt.
More on the exhibition: www.xavierhufkens.com/exhibit...
Fascinating interview and equally fascinating to hear how the sculptures revealed their true meaning to Nick. I loved the part where Nick said they are ‘mostly comic until they are not’. I find this sentence to be the essence of Nick. When you get to the ‘not’, it’s like a bowling ball has hit you in the guts, but until then, the comedy was very enjoyable 😂.
A thoroughly engaging conversation. I hope I get to see these ceramic figurines.
Extraordinary set of figurines! Great work Nick cave. I’d love to see them in exhibition sometime.
Respect for Nick, a man who works in mysterious ways…..
The Devil question, made Nick squirm ... 'the silent gifts he gives' ... really beautiful work, I think his art is ever as good as his music....
After walking through the exhibition in Montreal, and seeing a couple of these at the end, I immediately thought the devil was Nick (Old Nick ;)). I felt that in dealing with intense grief Nick perhaps became alienated from an image of himself that had come about through his life as a writer and performer.
Was a beautiful reason to visit a beautiful city.
Incredible. I love this!
stunning work, hope to get to see these someday
If someone said that Nick Cave of all people collects ceramic figurines you would not believe it. After you see these figurines though, it makes perfect sense.
👏👏👏👏🙌
💔❤🩹♥
he should auction off that lot for Gaza
I hope Nick is OK... to me it sometimes feels like he is screaming at the top of his lungs for help through his work, while people are politely clapping and stroking their beard. After all the grief the man has gone through I just hope he is alright.
Nick’s alright. I’m sure as an artist he feels things deeply. We all suffer with loss. Some suffer in greater ways because they don’t have an outlet. Nicks outlet is his art. He’s a lucky man that he can express himself in such a pleasing way
Hmmm...interesting...I wonder what the OTHER famous Nick Cave, the American artist, thinks about this? 💥🔥🎶🎨🔥💥
what another nick cave artist.? American?
For sure.
My name is Joe Blow.
Also interesting: what might the famous actor who is ALMOST named Nick Cave (except for the v) think about this?