Sensation

Through the eyes of LA-based artist Steve Roden (1964-2023), the world is full of endless possibilities if only you listen and observe. So often we force ourselves to find the correct answer, but Roden’s work defies singular meaning, prompting audiences to follow their intuition. Instead of taking things at face value, what if we looked deeper and considered what connections could be made? While Roden did not have synesthesia, or the crossing of senses, he was interested in the topic and saw it as a pathway to new understandings. Paper to song, poems to color, or nerves to string, Roden invented translation systems to associate different disciplines, creating a common language that broadens our perception. For Roden, sound was one medium to string together networks of meaning. As a musician, Roden popularized the Lowercase music genre, which is composed of quiet yet profound everyday sounds, like turning pages or wind. This exhibition invites you to explore the phenomenon of sensations, let go of your preconceived notions, and discover the magic of Steve Roden.