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Arts & Communication On the interplay between painting and music

“It just looks Baroque and sounds Baroque, it is so of connection, but if they were all like Baroque,
representative of the style’s esthetics. It is not just an then no, I would be bored.” (P7)
interpretation, it is Baroque over both senses.” (P8) “I would be interested in collections that are based
“With the music, the painting got alive!” (P3) entirely on art movements, but I would like it to
“The music makes you feel immersed in the include many art movements, not just artworks
painting’s “stage,” as in the movies.” (P15) from the same one.” (P6)
The sense of complementarity between visual and music “Maybe it would be boring if they all had the same
content was particularly appreciated by P15, indicating type of connection… I liked that I did not know
“Las Meninas” as the most favored story (IQ1) due to this what to expect next.” (P11)
aspect. In the same direction, P8 proactively elaborated on In a different vein, one participant (P1) pointed
this topic at the beginning of the interview, highlighting out the lack of Greek music songs in the employed set,
it as one of the main positive aspects of her experience. commenting that even the Artwork Cards depicting
Before going through the IQs, P8 took the initiative to works of Greek visual artists were connected to foreign
propose the creation of thematic sets (of Artwork Cards) music. The participant stated that she would like to have
based exclusively on art movements, suggesting that they a few Greek songs by well-known composers added in the
would support her to explore Baroque (or impressionism, set, offering concrete examples, and suggesting that their
cubism, among others) in an experiential and constructive inclusion would benefit her overall experience, by better
rather than theoretical way, that is, through a series of enabling her to personally relate, and thus engage, with the
multisensory examples. offered music content.

Examining the stories that were indicated as participants’ Finally, by investigating the effects of participants’
favorites (IQ1) we observe that several participants reported experience with respect to achieving a deeper understanding
high interest in Andy Warhol’s cover for the album “Velvet of the artworks or resonating with the artists (IQ10), we
Underground and Nico,” often particularly referencing the observe that participants’ related responses referenced
part talking about the legal conflict over copyright issues mainly the “inspirational” connections uncovered in the
(IQ6). Some participants particularly appreciated the story employed set of Artwork Cards, often explicitly mentioning
of the visual artist drawing inspiration from contemporary the artists’ names and reporting emotional resonance:
music songs, whereas others pointed out the story relating “Rokos’ artwork is in a way ‘explained’ by the song,
David and Beethoven through Napoleon: “I knew the artists the song explains to you how the artwork was done.
and when about they lived, but I hadn’t really placed them I had seen the artwork in the past, but it didn’t
‘together’ chronologically, I hadn’t thought that they shared strike me, I did not clearly remember it. Now that
common references and context,” commented P5. I’ve heard it along with the music song, and read
In the question investigating participants’ response to some of its lyrics, I definitely got more into it. I’d say
the diversity of connections included within the employed you really have to be listening to the music when
set of Artwork Cards (IQ9), most participants (13 you look at this artwork.” (P12)
participants) stated to have strongly appreciated the variety, “I felt that the music got me into the head of the
either highlighting it as a positive aspect or expressing person who was painting it.” (P8)
concerns about the effects that a “homogenous” collection “By just looking at the painting I saw flowers,
could potentially have. Some indicative comments on that something like a garden, a joyful picture. But with the
matter are the following: song and the lyrics, you realize that’s not the case…
“I liked it a lot that the artworks and their music- The music bears emotions, I felt his pain.” (P4)
connections were so different, it was like a huge “Seeing or listening to the artwork that inspired
range of potential relationships was revealed to me, another artwork is very interesting. It brings you
which is not obvious at all, it was not about just closer to the artist, to how he felt.” (P2)
one kind or connection—painter to musician, or 3.4. User satisfaction and context of use
art movement—it covered many different aspects,
and that was so eye-opening. I had it in mind, to All participants, independent of their prior knowledge
some extent, but it took ‘flesh and bones,’ with all or interest in art, stated that it was a pleasant experience
those different stories I had no idea about!” (P5) and their knowledge was enriched. Discussing its
“If there were intricate stories about all (visual) contextualization as a casual activity that takes place in
artworks, such as the one with the Banana cover, everyday environments, for example, from the ease of their
then I would like it, even if they had the same type home, by scanning sets of physical Artwork Cards (that

Volume 2 Issue 4 (2024) 8 doi: 10.36922/ac.2367