Ever wondered what music might actually look like? Local artist Shannon Novak, who experiences sound-to-colour synaesthesia, expresses melody as art works composed of brilliant colour and geometric shapes.

His newest work, ‘Melodic Flourish’, will be illuminated at Atrium on Takutai this weekend in celebration of Matariki, the Maori New Year. In developing the work, Shannon immersed himself in traditional Maori song and translated what he could hear into bright abstractions.

Synaesthesia is a neurological phenomenon that allows a person to experience one sense in response to another. Shannon ‘sees’ sound as colour and form and ‘hears’ form as music or beat. He both composes music and creates art works, and many of his recent works have been displayed with soundtracks.

‘Melodic Flourish’, which will display in the Atrium throughout the month of Matariki, consists of four printed translucent film panels, applied onto glass and backlit. In this work, the colours and shapes don’t represent specific notes, says Shannon. Rather, they’re a collective synaesthetic response to his exploration of traditional waiata.

Brightness and productivity

Matariki is a constellation that rises in the north-eastern skies in late May or early June, and for Maori marks the beginning of a new year. It is known in other traditions as the Pleiades or Seven Sisters.

The rising of Matariki, which falls this year on 4 June, marks the change to a colder season and a renewed focus on indoor skills and creativity, including music.

Traditional waiata, or songs, were a way of recording and passing down knowledge and stories from generation to generation, giving them a strong educational purpose.

“This work also references education in its design by providing the viewer with a learning experience – new information is taken in, memories are forged,” says Shannon.

Maori traditionally believed there was a link between the brightness of the Matariki stars and the productivity of the coming year.

“Britomart is one of the very few locations which has the ability to make the light shine as brightly as possible,” says Shannon, “It’s a focal point in Auckland’s CBD.”

See more of Shannon Novak’s work

Shannon Novak is represented by:
Pierre Peeters Gallery
Creative Exchange New Zealand