Just over half of the seventeen small figures are lined up on a long podium that extends through the first of the gallery’s two rooms. Together they form a pyramid formation, similar to an age staircase, in which the devil is born, lives and dies in 17 steps. The pieces are about the size of pots of geraniums and must be lifted out of the box with two hands. What is striking about the figures is how full of desire the color that decorates the porcelain is. For example, at the beginning of his life, the devil rides into a colorful, yellow flower meadow.
– The devil becomes a human being on this journey, you see the human being in every figure in some way, says Marie Patomella, curator of the exhibition.
She also sees color as central and was inspired to paint the entryway walls devil red. The same wall is also decorated with Cave’s own thoughts on the works. There he describes how the porcelain procession “marches past in a line” in front of his closed eyes while he tries to sleep. Despite this sympathy with the devil, Cave himself believes in an earlier interview about the work with the Xavier Hufkens Gallery that the work with the ceramic figures was rewarding in a religious sense. “It helped me move in the direction of God,” he said at the time.
The works are on loan from the Dutch Museum Voorlinden, whose representative Maud Slingenberg, together with the restorer Billy Höök, is responsible for handling the porcelain.
Ceramics came into Nick Cave’s life as a teenager when he created small clay figures during a ceramics course. His mother then surrounded herself with the characters for the rest of her life. It took until the pandemic, a missed tour and the death of his mother for ceramics to find their way back into the musician’s life.
– He seems to have a need to tell. Through music, through books or, like now, ceramics. He is a multi-faceted person, says Maria Patomella.
She sees a relationship between Nick Cave’s project and the Kulturhuset’s claim to be a meeting place for many different art forms. As an example, she cites the Nick Cave Library, installed in the second room of the exhibition, which is filled with the 100 works that Nick Cave himself considers to be his most formative, including “American Murder Ballads” and the Bible. The books are now available to borrow from the Kulturhuset library. Maria Patomella notes that the collection contains a diversity of perspectives.
– It’s about “this thing about being human”, quite simply, as Roy Andersson said a long time ago.
The biblical images are is prevalent in Cave’s art, which is evident not least on the musician’s two most recent albums, “Wild God” and “Live God.” In addition to the protagonist of the current exhibition, there are a few other biblical symbols to be found. For example, when the devil fights with a lion and is also helped by a snake. According to Maria Patomella, the overall theme is said to have its origins in the series of images “Way of the Cross,” which depicts Jesus on Calvary.
– There are 14 images that tell of the human suffering of Jesus, while this exhibition addresses the devil’s journey from birth to death.
In addition to the biblical theme, the statuettes also have something everyday about them. According to Maud Slingenberg, another source of inspiration must be the Staffordshire porcelain that was part of the mantelpieces of Victorian houses. Like their British predecessors, Cave’s porcelain pieces have a flat back so they can stand back against the wall.
“It’s like making a fireplace wreath for this story about the life of the devil,” says Maud Slingenberg about her role in the work.
The collection of figures now visiting Stockholm is unique: it is the only complete set of sculptures in the world. Although there are security measures around the exhibition with alarm systems and guards, the fragile pieces are left open in the room. However, Maud Slingenberg isn’t worried about anything breaking when unpacking, but is looking forward to presenting the porcelain works to her audience.
– I’m very happy to bring her back to life.
Facts.“The Devil. One Life”
What: Exhibition of devil figures by artist and ceramist Nick Cave.
When: February 12 to May 31, 2026.
Where: Gallery 3, Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, Stockholm.
