Hearing Colors,Seeing Sounds

What does your favorite song look like? What does your favorite book taste like? It might seem strange to see sounds or taste words, but some people really do experience the world in this way.

These people have a rare condition called synesthesia. This means their senses are connected in an extraordinary way. When one sense is used, another is automatically triggered. For example, someone might see colors when they hear music. It isn’t a disease or a disability. It’s simply a different way of perceiving the world. Some artists have embraced synesthesia, making art or music that illustrates how they see, hear, taste, and smell their experiences.

What does your favorite song look like? How does this article taste? It may seem strange to see sounds or taste words, but some people can! These people have a rare condition called synesthesia (sih-nuhs-THEE-zhuh). This means their senses are connected in an extraordinary way. Using one sense automatically triggers another one.

Synesthesia is a different way to perceive the world. Some artists with synesthesia make art about what they experience.

Russian-born painter Wassily Kandinsky (VAS-uh-lee kan-DIN-skee) often talked about the intense connection between music and art. He was born in 1866, before anyone had heard of synesthesia. Today, based on his paintings and what he wrote about the relationship between music and art, many experts believe he experienced synesthesia.

In 1911, Kandinsky attended a musical performance by the composer Arnold Schoenberg. It moved him to paint Impression III (Concert), above. The vivid colors paired with bold brushstrokes express what he felt during the concert.

Kandinsky famously described music as “the best teacher” and as something that could powerfully convey an artist’s feelings. He associated individual notes with specific colors. To him, for example, bells sounded like orange and flutes sounded like light blue. “The sound of colors is so definite that it would be hard to find anyone who would express bright yellow with bass notes,” he explained.

Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky (VAS-uh-lee kan-DINskee) was born in 1866. Kandinsky talked about the connection between art and music. Today many experts believe he experienced synesthesia.

In 1911, Kandinsky attended a musical performance. It inspired him to paint Impression III (Concert), above. He uses vivid colors and bold brushstrokes to express what he felt during the concert.

Kandinsky said music was “the best teacher.” He associated notes with colors. To him, bells sounded like orange. Flutes sounded like light blue. “It would be hard to find anyone who would express yellow with bass notes,” he said.

Scientists can test for synesthesia today. They estimate that between 2 and 5 percent of the population experience the condition. But no one is sure why. Some experts believe parts of the brain that are close together are “talking” to one another.

American artist Sarah Kraning first noticed that music made her see certain colors, forms, and even sparkles when she was 7 years old. She eventually started painting what she saw in works like the example on the cover, inspired by Taylor Swift’s “The Prophecy.”

“My synesthesia causes me to experience sounds as colors, patterns, textures, and movement,” Kraning says. “These experiences are consistent and automatic, meaning that a sound looks the same way to me each time I hear it.”

Every time Kraning hears the song “Defying Gravity,” from the movie Wicked, it looks like her 2024 work above. Notice the swirling forms that seem to recede into the background, creating depth on a flat canvas.

Kraning says that her paintings are her “own personal love letter[s] to the beauty of sound.”

Today scientists can test for synesthesia. They estimate that less than 5 percent of the population experience it. Some scientists believe that parts of the brain that are close together are “talking” to one another.

American artist Sarah Kraning has synesthesia. As a kid, she realized that music made her see colors, shapes, and even sparkles. She started painting what she saw.

Kraning “experience[s] sounds as colors, patterns, and textures,” she says. “A sound looks the same way to me each time I hear it.” For example, every time the artist hears the song “Defying Gravity” from the movie Wicked, it looks like her 2024 work above. Notice the swirling forms that seem to move into the background. This creates depth on a flat canvas.

Kraning says that her paintings are “love letter[s] to the beauty of sound.”