What You Talkin' 'Bout Kadinsky? (experience, verse, science, Articles)

[Buttercup]

NORWICH (Reuters) - Artists such as Wassily Kandinsky appeal to more than just the visual sense because their work can also be heard --at least by some people a British neuroscientist said Monday.

Synesthetes are individuals in whom one sense triggers another. Their senses are connected, so as well as seeing a painting such as "Composition VIII, 1923" by the Russian painter, the work also triggers sounds.

"What Kandinsky wanted to do was for it to appeal to hearing as well," Dr Jamie Ward, a neuroscientist at University College London (UCL), told a British science conference.

Whether or not Kandinsky was a synesthete is not known but Ward said the artist certainly knew about the sensory phenomenon.

Synesthetes make up only about one to two percent of the population but Ward believes everyone links music and art unconsciously.

To test the theory, in a series of experiments he asked synesthetes to draw and describe their vision of music played by the New London Orchestra.

Other people without synesthesia, who acted as a control group, did the same and a professional artist created animations of the images related to the music.
"We played them musical notes and got them to draw and describe what they see," Ward said.

When more than 200 people were shown 100 images and asked to choose the animations that best suited the music they consistently selected the images from the synesthetes.

"It's almost as if everybody can appreciate these synesthetic images even if they don't have synesthesia," he added.

People are born with synesthesia, which runs in families. Ward and other scientists believe that by studying the phenomenon they can learn more about how the senses and thoughts are linked in the brain.

"Kandinsky wanted to make visual art more like music -- more abstract. He also hoped that his paintings would be heard by his audiences," Ward added.

What do you think of this phenomenon. I've heard it before but just can't quite wrap my mind around it. Do you think it's legit?

[zombieharlot]

Oh, good! You can't quite wrap your mind around it either. I was hoping I wouldn't be the only one. Simply reading this little article isn't enough for me to think anything of it though.

[Buttercup]

Originally Posted by zombieharlot

Oh, good! You can't quite wrap your mind around it either. I was hoping I wouldn't be the only one. Simply reading this little article isn't enough for me to think anything of it though.

I don't know how they could prove that people "hear" paintings. And, what did Kadinsky hope we'd hear? Birds chirping? Crickets? Burps? What?

I find it fascinating and every once in a blue moon I hear a story that's similar. I should add this mystery to my list of 5 million other fascinating theories to research.

[zombieharlot]

Originally Posted by Buttercup

I don't know how they could prove that people "hear" paintings. And, what did Kadinsky hope we'd hear? Birds chirping? Crickets? Burps? What?

I find it fascinating and every once in a blue moon I hear a story that's similar. I should add this mystery to my list of 5 million other fascinating theories to research.

Maybe they're really small, concave paintings of the ocean. Then, if you put your ear up to them you can hear the ocean.

[BrandonE]

I've most often heard of this in the context of the reverse phenomena, that is, folks that see colors when they hear music. Certain keys apparently correspond to certain colors.

I've never experienced it myself, but seen several articles and news stories about it, and I find no reason to doubt the people making the claims.

I participated in a online music forum in the past with at least two members who claimed to be synaesthetes. Interestingly, they also both had Asperger's syndrome.

[d.]

Originally Posted by BrandonE

I've most often heard of this in the context of the reverse phenomena, that is, folks that see colors when they hear music. Certain keys apparently correspond to certain colors.

the thing to remember though, is that it's a very subjective experience - my a minor is decidedly dark red, for example, while others might pereive it green or even purple. it is very handy when learning relative pitch, though.

[zombieharlot]

Less gifted people like me just watch Disney's Fantasia.

[BrandonE]

Originally Posted by il divino

the thing to remember though, is that it's a very subjective experience - my a minor is decidedly dark red, for example, while others might pereive it green or even purple. it is very handy when learning relative pitch, though.

Ah, so you're synaestetic then? Does the phenomena only flow in the direction I described (music -> color)), or do you "hear" paintings as well? Have you ever been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome (if that's not too personal of a question)?

[d.]

Originally Posted by BrandonE

Ah, so you're synaestetic then? Does the phenomena only flow in the direction I described (music -> color)), or do you "hear" paintings as well?

abstract paintings, perhaps. but i've never been that interested in painting either.

Originally Posted by BrandonE

Have you ever been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome (if that's not too personal of a question)?

no it isn't too personal, and no, i haven't.

[BrandonE]

Well, if I'm not derailing the thread too much, I'd be interested in hearing more about how you personally experience the phenomena. Is it limited to music and color? Are you aware of any other differences between the way you experience everyday phenomena and the way non-synaestetes do so? For instance, how do you experience the voices of those you love over the phone? Is it more than just an aural experience? I'd be very interested in anything you have to say on the subject.