Friday 8 August 2008

First post

This is the first post of the Synesthesia Art Forum, placed on the beautifully shaped date 080808, hoping to develop a collaborative project using this space as a forum wherein we can enquire, share research and experiences, show work, create links and propose and develop projects, exhibitions, gatherings, events etc.

In addition to creating and presenting art, I am interested in researching synesthesia in contemporary art. I would like to understand different processes and activities which involve multiple senses "synestheticly" to investigate how they might enhance awareness and creativity.

I would appreciate it if you could comment on this by describing your experience of synesthesia in regards to how you create artwork.

11 comments:

Timothy B Layden said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Timothy B Layden said...

Perhaps it is a bit absurd to write the first comment to my own post, nonetheless to start things off I will repsond to my own request.

I am often inspired by rhythm and patternsaroused in me through hearing sounds (be them musical or simply noises). By loosening my mind of set ideas of form and sound, these become one in the same. I sense sound as having shape and spacial movement and when I am painting I often feel as if I am moving within a physical form of sound and colour. The paint I apply to a canvas appears to me as tracks I leave behind on a journey. I realize these are subjective sensations resulting from bringing my personal emotional experience out of myself and into the physical world through art. Though it may be difficult for on viewers to fully understand, as it is so subjective and ineffable. Nonetheless I hope they are able to find connections with my work and and their own experiences, inspiring them to reflect.

squab said...

I just wanted to thank you for inviting to this space.

I'll join this space with pleasure,
after I finished up my new artwork.
I'm looking forward to seeing your new works.

All the best*

squab said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Apotegma said...

What a jam session of borborygmus in my stomach rrright now!! Sparkling, crackling, pineapplingly kiwishly acidicking me to the highest brrbrl... kitsch.

Pat said...

Hola Tim!

I feel like we are getting a chance to continue the conversation we began at the summer Artecitta conference in Spain. I love your description of how the paint ou apply to a canvas appears to you as tracks you "leave behind on a journey".
When I write, I also imagine myself traveling on a kind of pathway--it is an upwardly sloping alphabet trail of colored letters. My default position is at the "bottom" of the trail between a large orange "A: and a big green "B". Next to that "B", is a navy blue "C", then a choclate brown "D", then a lipstick red "E". The different letters continue like that in their various colors, along an upward slope, receding in the distance (just as trees or houses do when one looks at them up a distant road). But I can "glide" up the trail when I consider using a particular word -- "stand" next to the letter and think of using words that begin with that letter.

These internal processes are so close to us that it is almost hard to verbalize them well enough to share them. I'd love to hear some others.

Lola Gil Navarro said...

Hi there!
It’s very poetic and interesting the way you describe the process of how you create your art. I’ve been looking carefully how my connection with painting is build. Trying to explain it, as well as looking at it more consciously, has brought up more questions than answers.
I don’t have any specific image in my head when I paint. It’s more like I unplug my thoughts and connect my hand to my feelings. If I listen to music while I paint (sometimes I just choose silence) it’s almost sure that I will move my hand to the rhythm of music… like an orchestra director, but not very dramatically. Sometimes my whole body is involved with the process, although the painting/ drawing might be in a small format. Some other times, when I’m no so lucky, I just can’t get into the painting and I feel like there’s a brick wall just in front of it.
Although I did some paintings with coffee, and the sense of smell was a strong factor there, I’ve never felt I had a sinestethic connection, at least the way sinesthetic people have. I don’t know either, if I embellish my painting process with my imagination…
In any case, I can’t say there is a patron in my way of creating art. There’s always something new coming on “stage” and something going off …
Hmmm…

Timothy B Layden said...

In response to Lola's comment:
You mentioned that you have no specific image in your head when you paint, though imagine for a moment that you allow yourself one. Imagine a very simple image to paint, and then in total silence, in just an hours time, with as little outside influence as possible, try to render that image as sincerely as you can. Then, allowing your environment and your changeing moods to influence you more, do it again. Then a third time play some soft music, then again with some heavy metal, another time try it with the window open with n o music letting the outside noise, wind and temperature affect you. Are all the images the same? Do the colours, lines, moods change? How? Why?...?

Lola Gil Navarro said...

it sounds very interesting... I'll try and then I post the results!

Anonymous said...

Hi Tim!

I've been directed to your blog through Pat Duffy, and I'm excited to see that you've started this blog. I'm also interested in synesthesia and art, specifically in dance (I think Pat told you about my synesthetic dance Color Play).

I'm looking forward to reading your blog!

Timothy B Layden said...

Hello Kate,
Yes Pat did tell me about you and I have seen your performance on You tube; I would love to see you perform live. It would be great to publish some of your videos on this blog if you approved. What do you think?