Ab Major 9 - Variation 5 — Acrylic on Paper by Arnaud Quercy

About This Artwork

This work explores the visual translation of an Ab Major 9 chord through chromesthetic mapping, part of the Synesthetic Explorations collection. The piece investigates how extended jazz harmonies can be rendered visible through color relationships, translating the chord tones Bb, C, Eb, G, and C into their corresponding visual equivalents.

Red tones dominate the composition, appearing in warm rosy browns and deeper crimson areas that represent the C notes in different octaves. Dark violet forms provide contrast through the Bb foundation, while blue-violet accents mark the Eb fifth. Red-orange elements complete the harmonic structure through the G seventh. The colors arrange themselves in geometric blocks that suggest the spread voicing of the original chord, with lighter red tones occupying prominent areas and darker violet sections anchoring the lower register.

The work measures 14.8 × 21.0 cm and uses acrylic on paper, creating a compact study format. Certificate number 20240228-0033 authenticates the piece, with the artist's signature located at bottom right. This variation represents one exploration within the broader Synesthetic Explorations series, which examines the intersection of musical harmony and visual perception through systematic color translation.