Lit, 2023

A Facility Artwork by Nick Cave and Bob Faust
4-color digitally printed vinyl
50’ x 29’ National Sawdust facade
Commissioned by the Onassis Foundation as part of the Archive of Desire festival
Photos by Zachary Schulman and others

“Later, in a more perfect society, someone else made just like me is certain to appear and act freely.”

The excerpt from C.P. Cavafy’s Hidden Things, viscerally connects to human insecurities as well as the potential progress and empowerment. Each is simply attached to a certain time, place or situation, but all are reminders of the walls we build to keep ourselves safe, that without hard work, perseverance and vision for a greater future, can eventually become walls to keep us from truly living. Lit, is a billboard-scaled expression of radical joy intended to refuel us on our way toward that more perfect society. It makes use of the cumulative powers of its components. The words, a Nick Cave soundsuit and the facade of National Sawdust itself. Originally created to conceal race, gender and class, Nick Cave’s soundsuits force a viewer to engage without preconceived judgment. They operate less as armor and more as a key to unlock one’s own full expression. Faust worked with Cave to select a performance still that would seamlessly integrate with the historic masonry. This one from 2003, is made of found materials including a vintage afghan, chainmail keychains, plastic beads and synthetic raffia. Cavafy’s words are skillfully integrated with the soundsuit as well as the building itself, taking advantage of the windows as a lightsource and frame for the “in a more perfect society,” to instigate the unofficial goal of the Lit.