Eye For Sound

Responsible for some of heaviest variations of rock heard in recent and not so recent times, System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian is now bringing the noise in a completely different way this March with a cutting-edge fusion of art, music and technology.

Tankian, various international and local artists as well as a few web app designers have collaborated in order to create Eye For Sound, a multi-platform exhibition where optical recognition on a smartphone or tablet app (download the app here) allows each artwork at Eye For Sound to unlock a virtual treasure trove of music and interactive content.

Each piece of canvas on display at Silo Six has has its own unique, specially composed musical accompaniment (note: bring your own headphones, don't be that guy). Music and art featured include Tankian's own, music from Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello (paired off with artwork by Scott Hepburn), as well as works by local New Zealand artists - including Bic & Boh Runga, Shannon Novak, and Mardo El-Noor, who have all composed their own music and created their own artworks for the show.

Serj Tankian says "I’m aiming to have people see the music and hear the art. Using a modern app, Eye For Sound, we’re able to take Kandinsky’s synesthesia to a whole new level. Living in New Zealand a good part of the year, I am lucky to have befriended really cool musicians and visual artists, some of whom will be participating in the group. Everyone is excited about the prospect of building a bridge between visual art and music and showing off pieces never seen before.”

Thanks to Asahi Super Dry and Metro Magazine, this event is free to public.

Image credit: Serj Tankian.