One of the more interesting phenomena a person can possess accompanies the condition known as synesthesia. Smithsonian magazine carried a fascinating article about it a few years ago. We are more familiar with anesthesia which means without senses. Synesthesia, on the other hand, means something like “joined” or “combined” sensations. The sensations refer to the five human senses of sight, taste, hearing, touch and smell. The most common form of synesthesia is the combining of hearing with sight. In this case, some sounds cause the hearer to see color. Certain tastes cause some people to consistently see certain colors. Synesthesia is a condition that has been known for at least three centuries. The last 20 years has brought more spotlight to the condition with advances in research methods.

One famous painter who was a synesthete, as those with synesthesia are called, is Wassily Kandinsky. He said, “Color is the keyboard, the eyes are the harmonies, the soul is the piano with many strings. The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another, to cause vibrations in the soul.” You wonder how his paintings were influenced by his hearing. Squares With Concentric Circles is one of his more known works. More of his paintings are available for viewing here.