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Arts & Communication On the interplay between painting and music

they have somehow been provided with), some participants Considering also the positive references to elements of
framed it as a fun, social experience to be shared with surprise and climax, we suggest that the wide spectrum of
their families and friends. Two participants particularly personal relations and collaborations developed between
commented on the physical aspect of the described hybrid the two artistic communities provides a path that needs to
experience, expressing the desire to obtain many “collection be further explored for content creation purposes.
packs” – similar to the extensions of board games. In a Based on the participants’ detailed remarks related
different vein, many participants enthusiastically suggested
its use within the cultural environment of art museums, to deeper understanding, inspirational, one-to-one
providing a music-oriented alternative to traditional connections between artworks and music seem to be
“audio-guides.” Table 3 summarizes the main user study the most promising ones to that end, fostering stronger
results reported above. emotional responses and cultivating resonance with the
artists. We suggest giving particular emphasis on such
4. Discussion connection types and attempting to integrate them into the
design of related content development activities.
The user study results indicate that the dialogue between
the two arts, painting, and music, may provide an appealing Furthermore, focusing on the “got alive,” “staging/
topic for communication, as well as a promising medium movie” remarks made in the case of “Las Meninas”
to cultivate the public’s engagement with visual artworks painting, we propose that the digital medium may provide
and to promote learning within formal and informal a valuable tool for cultural content communicators,
environments. enabling them to create a novel form of “mixed-media
Apart from technical, contextual, and representational interpretations,” following the paradigm of “mixed-media
narratives that are typically offered in fine art museums, paintings” that are now created by contemporary artists.
one may create cultural experiences with stories that According to the participants’ suggestion, such mixed-
convey more inspirational as well as personal connections media interpretations may be offered on-site, providing
between the two artistic communities, reflecting their audio-enriched experiences while viewing the exhibited
vibrant interaction. Although varying preferences were artworks in the museum’s cultural environment. They
reported over the stories’ content and the connection may also take place in casual environments, as leisure
types they manifested over music, we observe that the activities, leveraging physical printed cards that resemble
participants overall appreciated the wealth and diversity traditional postcards. In this case, the physical cards may
of connections revealed between the two forms of art. depict a variety of visual artworks, while at the same time
providing digital access to their “music world” and its
Table 3. Summary of main user study results. related stories.
The creation of the proposed content is an inherently
Perception of story structure multidisciplinary process and includes several key tasks,
• Three-act story structuring well received overall: comprehensible, such as: (1) identifying which visual artworks and music
good flow between topics
• Request for an additional story part focusing on the painting’s content to use together, (2) obtaining and processing their digital
• Proposal to reveal connection at the last part of the story, perceiving it representations, (3) creating a compelling story flow to
as the story’s climax. describe all the aspects covered in the connection between
Perception of connection types the two pieces of art, and (4) uploading the content onto a
• Varying preferences, consensus that each connection type has its own digital platform (so as to be finally accessible by the users
merit and value of the mobile app).
• Contradicting strong attitudes in two cases: a) Ownership relations
as “too personal, no wider impact, insignificant” for some, versus Focusing on the first task, as explained through the
“interesting and surprising” for others, b) Art Movement relations as description of the conceptual model we created (along with
“loose, indirect, abstract” for some, versus “complementary, multi- specific use cases), there is not just one way to go. Aspiring
sensory” for others.
• Integration of different connection types within a single set was a content creators have many options here, from focusing on
positive aspect direct, one-to-one relations between two concrete pieces
• Inspirational connections afford deeper understanding and resonance of work (visual and music), to leveraging more abstract
with the artists. or indirect relations, as with art movements and historical
Perception of cultural experience figures. We suggest that the proposed conceptual model
• Pleasant and informative experience for all participants may serve not only a useful communication but also an
• Contextualized as an informal leisure activity or “audio-guide” analytical tool to that end, establishing simple terminology
alternative for on-site visits. and a shared visual reference for all the involved parties.

Volume 2 Issue 4 (2024) 9 doi: 10.36922/ac.2367