Contemporary artists have long found solace in music as a muse for their creative processes. A recent exhibition at London's Serpentine Gallery celebrated the work of Peter Doig, whose "House of Music" showcased paintings paired with his favorite records played through an extraordinary sound system.
For Harold Offeh, Ghanaian-born artist and curator, music is an integral part of his artistic journey. Growing up in a household where African highlife and afrobeat filled the airwaves, he only recently developed an appreciation for the richness of this genre. His own "Covers" series takes inspiration from performers like Grace Jones, with whom he shares a special bond.
Music has played a pivotal role in the lives of many contemporary artists. Ragnar Kjartansson, an Icelandic painter and musician, often listens to music while working on his studio by the harbour, where musicians frequently stop by to jam. His own songs are woven into the fabric of his life, with Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild" being one of his current favorites.
In stark contrast, Chris Ofili finds solace in electronic music, which he discovered as a teenager at a house party featuring a 90-minute mixtape that became embedded in his psyche. He is now captivated by the Korgis' "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime," a song he describes as "the most romantic" of all time.
For Caroline Coon, musician and filmmaker, music has always been an integral part of her life. Her paintings often capture the sounds and rhythms of Notting Hill carnival, with steel band calypso and soca providing the soundtrack to her urban landscape compositions.
Laure Prouvost's films are deeply rooted in sound, which she finds all around her – from birdsong to dripping water. She loves recording these moments on her iPhone, creating an immersive sonic world that underpins her work.
Lastly, Mark Leckey's artistic journey was revitalized through music, particularly the avant-garde sounds of Acen's "Trip II the Moon (Part 2)". This record became a blueprint for his creative process, allowing him to access beyond his own experiences and tap into something more eclectic.
For Harold Offeh, Ghanaian-born artist and curator, music is an integral part of his artistic journey. Growing up in a household where African highlife and afrobeat filled the airwaves, he only recently developed an appreciation for the richness of this genre. His own "Covers" series takes inspiration from performers like Grace Jones, with whom he shares a special bond.
Music has played a pivotal role in the lives of many contemporary artists. Ragnar Kjartansson, an Icelandic painter and musician, often listens to music while working on his studio by the harbour, where musicians frequently stop by to jam. His own songs are woven into the fabric of his life, with Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild" being one of his current favorites.
In stark contrast, Chris Ofili finds solace in electronic music, which he discovered as a teenager at a house party featuring a 90-minute mixtape that became embedded in his psyche. He is now captivated by the Korgis' "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime," a song he describes as "the most romantic" of all time.
For Caroline Coon, musician and filmmaker, music has always been an integral part of her life. Her paintings often capture the sounds and rhythms of Notting Hill carnival, with steel band calypso and soca providing the soundtrack to her urban landscape compositions.
Laure Prouvost's films are deeply rooted in sound, which she finds all around her – from birdsong to dripping water. She loves recording these moments on her iPhone, creating an immersive sonic world that underpins her work.
Lastly, Mark Leckey's artistic journey was revitalized through music, particularly the avant-garde sounds of Acen's "Trip II the Moon (Part 2)". This record became a blueprint for his creative process, allowing him to access beyond his own experiences and tap into something more eclectic.
i love how music is being used as inspiration for art, it's like they're speaking the same language or something 
i mean, who wouldn't want to be surrounded by beautiful paintings and the sounds that evoke emotions from their childhood? anyway, peter doig's 'house of music' setup sounds insane with those records blasting through an entire sound system lol what a dream come true for music lovers like us! 
. And it's awesome that they're using sound systems and instruments to bring out the best in their art. Like, can you imagine seeing Peter Doig's paintings paired with his favorite records - it must be like having a party in a gallery! 
. They always need to bring in some new tech to make the whole experience feel like a music festival, right? Like, can't they just let us appreciate the art for once without all the bells and whistles? 
think its kinda cool how artists are using music as inspiration these days... i mean, who wouldn't want to have their favorite tunes playing in the background while they create? 
but what really gets me is how each of them has a personal connection to it - like Harold Offeh growing up with afrobeat and Chris Ofili discovering electronic music at this house party... its almost like they're channeling these emotions into their art, you know? 
. Music has always been a big part of my life too, and I love how it brings out different emotions in me whenever I listen to something new 
. And Laure Prouvost, she's just a genius with her iPhone recordings 
... it's like she's capturing the essence of sound itself! Mark Leckey's story is also super inspiring - I mean, who wouldn't want to tap into something more eclectic and experimental? 
i'm also loving the collaborations between artists and musicians, like harold offeh's 'covers' series. it's all about embracing the vibes and letting music guide your artistic journey 
it was actually pretty cool how they paired paintings with records 
i mean, who wouldn't love an entire show dedicated to gracing jones and afrobeat? 
I mean, these artists are not just using music as inspiration, they're actively incorporating it into their creative process, which speaks volumes about the state of our cultural landscape. We live in a world where experiences are being curated and re-packaged, and these artists are reflecting that. Like Harold Offeh's "Covers" series – it's all about layering, recontextualizing, and rediscovering. It's like we're seeing art through the lens of a social media filter. 
And I love how Harold Offeh's "Covers" series takes influence from African highlife and afrobeat - that's so cool! 
. And I'm also loving Laure Prouvost's sound-based films - using iPhone recordings of birdsong and dripping water is like, totally innovative 
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. And the way music influences their creative process is so deep... like, Harold Offeh's "Covers" series, that's some next level stuff 
. Anyway, it just goes to show how music can be such a powerful muse for artists.
i mean peter doig's house of music exhibit was literally a game changer - who knew paintings could be paired with records like that?! 
. And what's with the Korgis' "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" making Chris Ofili go all romantic? I guess you could say that music is just like cooking – a dash of this, a pinch of that... it brings out the best in everyone!
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. But let's not forget, some of these guys have been listening to the same tunes for decades, it's like they're stuck in a musical time loop 
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artists & music = like my life right? 
. And then there's Caroline Coon, she's like the centrist, capturing the vibrant sounds of Notting Hill carnival in her paintings 
. It's all about finding that perfect harmony, right? 
Chris Ofili's electronic obsession is also on point (who knew that 90s house parties could be so influential? 
). And can someone please pass the Sabrina Carpenter "Manchild" remix? 