When Johannes Vermeer painted his pupil holding a music book in 1658, he was capturing more than just a moment - it was an invitation to explore the rich relationship between art and music. Over time, artists have continued this tradition, using music as a source of inspiration, a catalyst for creativity, or even a medium in itself.
For some, like Harold Offeh, music is a way to tap into their cultural heritage. The Ghanaian artist credits Grace Jones' album "Island Life" with helping him appreciate the richness of his family's musical traditions. His "Covers" series features reworked images of performers from the 1970s and '80s, including Jones.
Ragnar Kjartansson, on the other hand, finds inspiration in the melancholy of The Cure's "Plainsong". Listening to it as a teenager helped him cope with the bleak Icelandic winters. His studio becomes a hangout for musicians, where Bach's sonatas are played alongside his own paintings.
For Chris Ofili, music is an essential part of his creative process. He mourns the decline of radio and the loss of ambient sounds that once filled London streets. Today, he listens to experimental electronic artists like Sault, whose albums explore themes of spirituality and love.
Joy Labinjo credits Fireboy DML's song "Peru" with helping her get through a particularly challenging period - making nudes during the pandemic. The familiar rhythms bring her into a trance-like state, allowing her to tap into her creativity.
Jeremy Deller, an artist known for his provocative installations, confesses that John Cage's "4'33"" helps him think. He finds comfort in the raw emotion of music, which he believes can be both local and avant-garde - unlike the theoretical frameworks he struggled with during art school.
Laure Prouvost, a film and video artist, loves recording sounds like dripping or scratching on her iPhone. The resulting images are "the facade" for the true material she works with: sound. Her favorite song is Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell on You", a classic that never fails to evoke a response.
Mark Leckey's journey back to art through music began when he found himself struggling with theoretical frameworks in school. He discovered that listening to specific songs could serve as a blueprint for his own creative process, allowing him to tap into emotions and ideas beyond his own experience.
Throughout these conversations, it becomes clear that music plays a vital role in the lives of these contemporary artists. Whether it's finding cultural heritage, coping with existential crises, or sparking creativity, music is an integral part of their artistic journeys. As Peter Doig's recent exhibition "House of Music" at the Serpentine Gallery demonstrates, the boundaries between art and music continue to blur, inviting us to explore this complex relationship further.
For some, like Harold Offeh, music is a way to tap into their cultural heritage. The Ghanaian artist credits Grace Jones' album "Island Life" with helping him appreciate the richness of his family's musical traditions. His "Covers" series features reworked images of performers from the 1970s and '80s, including Jones.
Ragnar Kjartansson, on the other hand, finds inspiration in the melancholy of The Cure's "Plainsong". Listening to it as a teenager helped him cope with the bleak Icelandic winters. His studio becomes a hangout for musicians, where Bach's sonatas are played alongside his own paintings.
For Chris Ofili, music is an essential part of his creative process. He mourns the decline of radio and the loss of ambient sounds that once filled London streets. Today, he listens to experimental electronic artists like Sault, whose albums explore themes of spirituality and love.
Joy Labinjo credits Fireboy DML's song "Peru" with helping her get through a particularly challenging period - making nudes during the pandemic. The familiar rhythms bring her into a trance-like state, allowing her to tap into her creativity.
Jeremy Deller, an artist known for his provocative installations, confesses that John Cage's "4'33"" helps him think. He finds comfort in the raw emotion of music, which he believes can be both local and avant-garde - unlike the theoretical frameworks he struggled with during art school.
Laure Prouvost, a film and video artist, loves recording sounds like dripping or scratching on her iPhone. The resulting images are "the facade" for the true material she works with: sound. Her favorite song is Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell on You", a classic that never fails to evoke a response.
Mark Leckey's journey back to art through music began when he found himself struggling with theoretical frameworks in school. He discovered that listening to specific songs could serve as a blueprint for his own creative process, allowing him to tap into emotions and ideas beyond his own experience.
Throughout these conversations, it becomes clear that music plays a vital role in the lives of these contemporary artists. Whether it's finding cultural heritage, coping with existential crises, or sparking creativity, music is an integral part of their artistic journeys. As Peter Doig's recent exhibition "House of Music" at the Serpentine Gallery demonstrates, the boundaries between art and music continue to blur, inviting us to explore this complex relationship further.
I think its so cool how artists use music as inspiration or just to vibe out, you know? Like, music has a way of transporting you to another place or evoking emotions that can't be explained 
. For me, listening to uplifting tunes like Billie Eilish's "Ocean Eyes" always puts me in the right mindset for tackling my daily tasks 
. Its also dope how artists are connecting their work with the music they love – it feels so authentic 
. Maybe we can learn a thing or two from them about embracing our passions and finding creativity in unexpected places 
they're not just creatin vibes they're actualy makin use of it in their work like Harold Offeh's "Covers" series is lowkey genius 
and Ragnar Kjartansson's studio is literally the coolest hangout spot ever 
i love how each of them uses music to tap into somethin different like Joy Labinjo with Fireboy DML's "Peru" or Jeremy Deller with John Cage's "4'33"" it's all about findin that emotional connection and spark 
meanwhile ragnar kjartansson's use of The Cure's "Plainsong" is giving me chills 
it's like he's tapping into this melancholy that's so hard to put into words 
but idk w/ chris ofili, i'm all about that experimental electronic stuff too 
️ I mean, have you ever listened to instrumental music while working or studying? It's like a magic trick - your focus just gets better 
! For me, listening to electronic artists like Tycho or Explosions in the Sky helps me zone out and stay productive for hours. No distractions, no room for procrastination 
Plus, it's amazing how music can evoke different emotions and moods - if you're feeling sluggish, some upbeat tunes can be just what you need to boost your energy 
!
like harold offeh's 'covers' series is giving me life - he's showing us that music can be a connection to our roots and culture, you feel? and i'm loving how ragnar kjartansson uses bach's sonatas in his studio as background noise... it's like, the melancholy of the cure's 'plainsong' is literally helping him cope with the bleakness of icelandic winters 
of musicians incorporate visual elements into their work. That being said, some of the most iconic songs in history were created for films and commercials. Like, did you know that "White Christmas" was originally written for a 1942 film starring Bing Crosby? 
Anyway, back to these artists - I think it's really cool how different they respond to music. Harold Offeh's work is amazing, and Ragnar Kjartansson's studio sounds like the ultimate creative space! 
Can we talk about Sault's latest album for a sec? 
#ArtMeetsMusic. Johannes Vermeer's painting might've been about more than just a moment in time, but it's also about the power of art and music to connect us on a deeper level 
#CulturalHeritage. I mean, who knew that Harold Offeh's love for Grace Jones' album "Island Life" could be the key to understanding his family's musical traditions? 
#MusicMatters.
#RadioRevival.
#TranceLikeState. And Jeremy Deller's connection to John Cage's "4'33"" is like, totally fascinating 
#MusicForThought.
#SoundArt, and Mark Leckey's journey back to art through music is like, a total game-changer 
#MusicInArt. Can't wait for more exhibitions like Peter Doig's "House of Music" at the Serpentine Gallery 
. I mean think about it, when was the last time you saw an artist talk about how a particular song influenced their work? Like "oh yeah, I was listening to The Cure's 'Plainsong' and that's why my painting looks so moody"? It's like they're just making excuses or trying to sound cool. Where are these quotes coming from? How many of these artists have actually been interviewed about how music affects their art? And what's with the assumption that everyone who loves music is somehow "tapping into their cultural heritage" 
. Is it just a coincidence that all these artists happen to be talking about how much music means to them? I'm not buying it without some actual sources 
All these artists seem to have something deeper going on in their lives. Music isn't just a sound for them, it's a connection to who they are or where they come from. 
! Give me some ambient electronic vibes and I'm good to go 
. Can't wait for more exhibitions like "House of Music" that celebrate this amazing connection between art and music 
. Jeremy Deller's connection with John Cage's "4'33"" is like, a total game-changer for him - it helps him tap into raw emotion and think outside the box 
. It just goes to show that music is like, this universal language that can spark creativity and inspire us in so many ways 
. As a retiree, I've had my fair share of experiences that have taught me the importance of finding solace in art and music 
. Can you imagine your paintings just coming alive to some melancholy Cure song? 
I think that's what makes art so special - how music can tap into emotions and ideas on a deeper level 
what a fascinating read! its crazy how music can be such a big part of an artist's creative process, you know? like john cage's "4'33"" is literally genius - who needs theoretical frameworks when u can just listen to silence? 
but seriously, i love how all these artists have their own unique connection with music, whether its for cultural heritage or personal inspiration. and that Peter Doig exhibition sounds so cool! 
. And then there's Chris Ofili and his love for experimental electronic artists - it's like, he gets it! The decline of radio is real, fam 
!
Like, Jeremy Deller uses John Cage's song to clear his head & get inspired - that's pretty relatable for me too when Im stuck on a problem & just need some tunes 
. And what's up with all these "found inspiration" stories? Does anyone actually create anything new when they find a favorite song? It seems like they're just regurgitating whatever they feel, hoping someone will care 
.
I mean, I can totally relate to listening to music for comfort and inspiration - it's like, my go-to mode whenever I'm feeling down or stuck 
. But what's wild is seeing how different everyone's experiences are with music... like, Harold Offeh's whole thing about appreciating his Ghanaian heritage is just amazing 
I'm definitely gonna have to give John Cage's "4'33"" a spin, it sounds like just what I need to clear my head 
