Chromesthesia: Exploring sound as color with Symphony Lighting

What do Beyonce, David Hockney, Vincent Van Gogh and Pharrell Williams all have in common? They are all rumored to have sound-color synesthesia, also known as Chromesthesia. Their magnificent brains are wired in such a way that certain sounds will involuntarily evoke an experience of color, shape and movement. 

Those of us without the natural ability to see sound are left to find other means of conjuring up the same experience…

Take Melbourne-based commercial photographer,  Ben Glezer. He teamed up with lighting designers and architectural lighting suppliers, Ambience, to create an art project that explores sound as color in music-inspired colorscapes.

No paint or colored sets were used. Specific light combinations were created using luminaires from Ambience’s Symphony lighting series through which the varying RGB and white light were achieved using Casambi control.

The Lit-award-winning architectural lighting range comprises stunning linear pendants and bendable neon. In combination with Casambi control, we can almost glimpse the sensory response often experienced by those with chromesthesia.  

Applying a mixture of musical paraphernalia, including sheet music, cassette tapes and guitar pedals, this project not only pays homage to the sound-seeing creatives of past, present and future but is a triumphant example of how artificial light can be used to stunning effect.

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