Transcendental Études (Ode to Liszt)
2022
Drawing inspiration from the music of Franz Liszt this body of textile works, Transcendental Études (Ode to Liszt), presents a set of pictorial themes and variations that reference each of the twelve euphonic compositions. Stimulated by distinct auditory sources the music is transformed into visual signifiers, giving form to emotions that manifest from this musical realm. With an abundance of vivid colour, movement and dimensionality, this set of contained works seek to explore the dynamics of audiovisual harmony.
Working within a framework of leitmotifs - whether it be of central radial patterns among a sea of dense, colourful feathers or crystalline imagery that has been viewed by polarised light technology - these motifs amount to a descriptive tone that aims to elaborate upon the thematic compositions of Liszt’s twelve musical studies.
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As a side note: the series title 'Transcendental Études' (French: Études d'exécution transcendante), refers to the series of twelve compositions written for solo piano by Franz Liszt in 1852. The Transcendental Etudes S. 139 began in 1826, as a set of youthful and far less technically demanding exercises called the Étude en douze exercices (Study in twelve exercises) S. 136. Liszt then elaborated on these pieces considerably, and the far more technically difficult exercises called the Douze Grandes Études (Twelve Great Studies) S. 137 were then published in 1837.