The man who heard his paintbox hiss: Kandinsky and synaesthesia

Telegraph.co.uk ^ | 6/10/06 | Ossian Ward

[Republicanprofessor]

A new exhibition of Wassily Kandinsky's work shows how the artist used his synaesthesia - the capacity to see sound and hear colour - to create the world's first truly abstract paintings.

Russian-born artist Wassily Kandinsky is widely credited with making the world's first truly abstract paintings, but his artistic ambition went even further. He wanted to evoke sound through sight and create the painterly equivalent of a symphony that would stimulate not just the eyes but the ears as well. A new exhibition at Tate Modern, Kandinsky: Path to Abstraction, shows not only how he removed all recognisable subjects and objects from Western art around 1911, but how he achieved a new pictorial form of music.

[Republicanprofessor]

Thanks to Argh, a fascinating article on Kandinsky. I have often compared some images in his works to music, suggesting that thick lines might be comparable to a string bass. But this article does it much better. Wish I was in England so that I could see the exhibition at the Tate Modern.

[Republicanprofessor]

Three works by Kandinsky, from early, middle and late career. Often his titles, like those of Whistler, used "symphonic" names: Improvisation, Composition, etc.

[Republicanprofessor]

Art ping.

Let Sam Cree, Woofie, or me know if you want on or off this art ping list.

[Republicanprofessor]

Art Appreciation/Education ping list.

Let me know if you want on or off this ping list.

[Andy from Beaverton]

Nothing was more abstract to me than the 'Black Square" at the Hermitage that cost $1 million.

[GSlob]

Why, "synaesthesia - the capacity to see sound and hear colour" is an everyday common occurrence. After a bottle or two inanimate objects start moving and producing smells and sounds, sometimes they even defecate. I saw it a few times myself.

[Xenalyte]

See, that's why I just can't figure out modern art. How come some art "name" can paint a circle on a canvas and get a million for it, but I can paint the exact same damn circle on the same canvas and everything and no one will pay me squat?

[Red Badger]

You don't take the right drugs..............

[Jack of all Trades]

Quite impressive. How much more black could it be?

[reagan_fanatic]

See, that's why I just can't figure out modern art. How come some art "name" can paint a circle on a canvas and get a million for it, but I can paint the exact same damn circle on the same canvas and everything and no one will pay me squat?

My Daughter is turning one this August - maybe I could put a paintbrush in her hand and set her down on the floor by a piece of canvas. If someone can net a millions dollars for a black square, I just might be able to retire early.

[Xenalyte]

It's like, how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black.

[Gondring]

Kandinsky is believed to have had synaesthesia, a harmless condition that allows a person to appreciate sounds, colours or words with two or more senses simultaneously.

Harmless?!?

[Andy from Beaverton]

I must admit, it was a facinating painting even though it was just black.

[AnnaZ]

One of my favorites:



Composition VII

[Jack of all Trades]

True, and white's been done already.

[TheZMan]

My sentiments exactly. I will never, nor do I want to ever, appreciate modern "art".

[AdvisorB]

The black canvass reminds me of Russian history from 1917 up to the present times. Maybe Kandinsky had precognition as well.

[Axenolith]

How come some art "name" can paint a circle on a canvas and get a million for it, but I can paint the exact same damn circle on the same canvas and everything and no one will pay me squat?

You have to be either gay, mentally unbalanced or from an obscure foreign land and travel within the social circle of people who have large, inverse proportions of free cash to cranial capacity...

[kAcknor]

See, that's why I just can't figure out modern art.

It makes far more sense to me now. The entire 'Modern Art' and abstract created by an individual who was probably clinically insane, or at the least unbalanced to the point of hallucinations.

Yes, makes a whole lot more sense now...

[MineralMan]

"My sentiments exactly. I will never, nor do I want to ever, appreciate modern "art"."

OK. I doubt anyone will insist that you do.