How Artist Nick Cave Memorializes His Ancestors Through ‘Mammoth’ Work

Visual artist Nick Cave finds meaning in mammoths, the extinct elephant-like creatures that once roamed the earth. In his exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Cave uses these prehistoric giants to uncover and bring to light ancestral stories. During a 2017 talk at the museum, Cave and curator Sarah Newman were walking through the collection when Cave pondered the hidden history beneath the surface of 19th-century landscape paintings.

This curiosity led to the creation of "Nick Cave: Mammoth," an exhibition open until January 3, 2027.

Cave incorporates found objects connected to family histories, revealing what has been lost and what remains. Visitors will encounter lifeguard-style chairs adorned with mammoth tusks imitations, as well as a wearable mammoth costume made from a wooden frame featured in a video installation. Cave emphasizes the scale of his work, saying, "It looks like a landscape of amazing vernacular folk objects."

Central to the display is a massive lighted platform filled with hundreds of everyday objects collected from Cave's family's homes and flea markets. These items, meticulously organized and often handmade, transport viewers to intimate moments in their own lives. For instance, "Palimpsest (Promised Land)," a beaded tapestry created in collaboration with Cave's partner Bob Faust, represents the landscape of Cave's grandparents' farm where he spent his youth.

The exhibition text at the entrance emphasizes that each marker, memory, and connector may seem small, but collectively, they are mammoth. Cave's art explores environmental issues and personal identity, prompting viewers to reflect on how they are seen and their place in the world.

Born in Missouri in 1959, Cave was raised by a single mother among seven boys. His grandfathers were craftsmen, and his grandmother was a quilter. Cave reflects on his upbringing, saying, "What brought me to this project was me asking myself, ‘How was I made?’" He discovered that his family was composed of makers, including seamstresses, woodworkers, carpenters, painters, poets, and fashion constructors. This foundation of craft and creativity deeply influenced Cave's work.

Most of his family crafted after their day's work, without seeking it as a career. Cave emphasizes the importance of the traditions and creative legacies passed down through generations. "Mammoth" is rooted in this foundation, showcasing how Cave has absorbed and transformed these influences in his own work. The exhibition features performances, wearable sculptures, and video installations, all reflecting Cave's maximalist sensibilities and his contributions to contemporary art.