Soundscape 1982

"Soundscape" is a painting by Abdul Mati Klarwein, an artist who straddled the worlds of psychedelic art and album cover design. Klarwein grew up in Palestine during the Second World War, later living in Europe and the United States. His multicultural background undoubtedly informed his syncretic style. Take in how these rice terraces become a surreal landscape, blurring the lines between the natural and the hallucinatory. Here, he is less concerned with representing the world as it is, and more interested in how the world feels. Klarwein once said, "I am trying to paint the way music sounds." He often explored themes of spirituality and altered states of consciousness. This is, in part, through his combination of vivid colors, intricate detail, and dreamlike imagery. "Soundscape" evokes a sense of wonder, and offers a window into the artist's rich inner world. This allows us to reflect on the power of art to transform our perception and touch the intangible aspects of being human.