“Syn-aesthetic” is an audio/visual synchronization inspired by synesthesia, a phenomenon that causes sensory crossovers such as seeing smells or tasting sounds. A common form of this is being able to see sound. This project explores the correlation between sounds, sights, and emotions, asking questions like “What does sound look like?”, “What does sound feel like?”, and “What do emotions look like?” Throughout the experience, the viewer will be taken on a journey through a full range of emotions, starting with a sense of calm and melancholy, building up to a frustrated passion. The relief of that anger reveals an overwhelming discomfort that builds towards its limit. With nowhere left to go, the anxiety vanishes and is replaced by sensations of peace and excitement.
The intention is to challenge the way sound can influence visual perception and interpretation by manipulating visual moments to synchronize with various sounds. The effect can also be determined by whether the animation has sound present at all. How differently might people react to this show if they watch from across the river, where the music is not audible, than if they sit on the main deck? The experience will also vary from person to person due to different lived experiences.