Out of Tune features hand-printed woodblock prints layered onto semi-translucent Japanese Washi papers. Listening to and reflecting upon sound is a pivotal part of my creative process. I’m drawn to finding visual counterparts to the qualities of sound itself, often using musical structures and concepts as a framework for my compositions.
For me, the textures and forms in these prints echo the sounds of a Prepared Piano—a technique in which various objects are placed on or between the strings to alter the instrument’s sound. This creates a rich tapestry of noisy, orchestral resonances and vibrations. While developing these works, I listened to compositions for prepared piano by film and theatre composers such as John Cage, Andrea Manzoni, and Hauschka. Their sonic experimentations directly informed the way I layered and arranged the woodblocks.
As you view the prints, you may notice how the abstract shapes and patterns suggest landscapes, object silhouettes, or even deconstructed musical instruments. Some pieces resemble architectural forms while others hint at mechanical timekeeping devices. These visual associations parallel the role that sound plays in shaping our sensory memories and how we relate to the physical world around us.
To underscore the sonic ideas embedded in my work, I use musical terminology in the titles of the prints. Sonata, for example, traditionally refers to a composition for solo instrument, structured across four movements. In the past century, visual artists have adapted the Sonata as a way to develop and organize visual motifs within a body of work. My four-part series, Piano Sonata for Soft Pedal (Una Corda), references the muted, veiled sound produced when the piano’s left pedal is engaged.
An Impromptu is a dramatic, free-form piano composition, often sparked by improvisation and shaped by mood. This sense of spontaneity mirrors how my visual compositions emerge—through the layering of textures and shapes to create visual soundscapes open to interpretation.
Similarly, a Fantasia follows no fixed musical structure. It is a compact, expressive piece that thrives on imaginative freedom The prints under this title explore the interplay of silence and rhythm, capturing the movement and character of sound in visual form.
- Ali Bezer 2025
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