Ab Major 9 — 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 composition investigates how extended jazz harmony appears when converted from sound to color, with each note of the chord assigned its corresponding visual equivalent. The piece functions as both a study in synesthetic perception and a document of harmonic structure made visible.

Violet tones dominate the composition, occupying over half the surface through deep purples and indigos that represent the chord's fundamental Bb notes across multiple octaves. Coral and red-orange areas provide substantial presence, translating the chord's third and creating warm contrast against the cooler violet foundation. Blue-violet passages connect these primary areas, while small accent notes in orange, white, red, and red-violet complete the extended harmony. The geometric forms overlap and intersect, creating the visual equivalent of a spread piano voicing.

The acrylic on paper measures 14.8 × 21.0 cm and weighs negligible amounts, making it highly portable for study purposes. The work carries certificate of authenticity number 20240228-0028 and bears the artist's signature on the bottom right. Created in France in 2024, it represents one approach within the broader Synesthetic Explorations series that examines the intersection of musical and visual perception.