In collaboration with Montcalm, Rise Art presents The Sound of Form, an exhibition available both online and in person that explores the deep connection between visual art and sound. This initiative invites viewers to reconsider how they perceive art, immersing them in a unique sensory experience.
When the Visual Becomes Sonic
Visual art is traditionally perceived as silent. Yet some artworks seem to resonate within us, awakening sensations that go beyond mere sight. The Sound of Form questions the boundary between image and sound by offering a synesthetic experience: what if a painting could evoke the hum of a bustling city ? What if a sculpture could suggest a rhythm, a vibration, an inner melody ?
The selected artists push the limits of perception. Habib Hajallie reinterprets history through portraiture, giving voice to narratives often erased from British history. Brendan Neiland captures the sonic energy of metropolitan life through vibrant canvases. Each artwork explores the visual’s ability to translate the intensity and texture of sound.
Revealing Silence
The exhibition also examines the tension between sound and silence. How does the absence of noise influence our perception? By stripping away sonic references, The Sound of Form invites us to sharpen our senses and pay attention to invisible details and imperceptible vibrations.
An Exhibition to Discover Online and in London
Available online, the exhibition also features a selection of works on view at the Montcalm Royal London House in London until April 2025. The exhibiting artists include Alina Shiau, Andrew Crane, Anysia Nefissi, Camille d’Alençon, Kate McCrickard, Kevin Jackson, Kirsty Harris, Kjell Folkvord, Lucy Cade, Olga Shcheblykina, Sam Haynes, Simon Tatum, Sophie Bocher, Tom Waugh, and Yoni Alter.
Spotlight On…
With The Tears of Helios: Fragment 6 (2024), Anysia Nefissi explores synesthesia—the perceptual phenomenon in which the senses intertwine. Her approach goes beyond the visual to offer a kaleidoscopic sensory experience: the alternation between emptiness and fullness, silence and noise, creates a tension that invites feeling rather than mere observation. Her work fully embodies the exhibition’s theme by materializing this fusion of perception, where the eye can almost hear the resonance of emptiness and movement.
In Loving School (2022), Alina Shiau seeks harmony within imperfection. Her works blend color, form, and perspective to reveal the hidden layers of human experience. She explores the cycles of life and death, offering a reflection on the struggles and truths that transcend time. Here, pictorial rhythm and composition become a silent score, where each element seems to vibrate in unison with an inner sound.
Finally, Cantaloupe (2021) by Brendan Neiland reflects his immersion in the urban environment. His approach is almost documentary: he walks, observes, listens, and absorbs the atmosphere of the places he paints. For Neiland, architecture and its elements strive toward a form of aesthetic perfection, staged as a lifestyle that is both alluring and imposed. His work translates the sonic pulse of modern cities, where the visual becomes a reverberation of the sounds that animate urban space.
Rise Art: A Platform Supporting Artists
Rise Art is committed to promoting artists who reinvent the way we see the world. Through exhibitions, collaborations, and an online platform, the gallery supports art lovers and collectors in discovering inspiring works.
Montcalm Collection: Art at the Heart of London Luxury
The Montcalm Collection brings together prestigious hotels across London, each telling a unique story of the city through its architecture and history. This partnership with Rise Art reflects their shared ambition to offer an immersive experience where art and refinement meet.
The Sound of Form reminds us that art is not limited to what we see, it is something we feel, resonate with, and carry within us. An experience not to be missed for anyone eager to explore the interplay between the senses.