Synesthesia - colors you can feel

Have you ever thought about the concepts of "green with envy," "feeling blue" and "seeing life through rose-colored glasses"? Why are emotions actually described in colors?

Imagine for a moment that everything around you has a color; the food you eat, each letter in your favorite book has its own color, and when you look at a certain object that is not a television, the you can tasteyour favorite food. These are almost superpowers, in fact it is a real phenomenon called synesthesia that 4% of the world's population (including me) experiences.

Basically, you could say that synesthesia is the ability to experience the world in colors. At this point you're probably thinking, "Wait, everyone experiences the world through colors! Anyone with sight knows that the sea is blue and daffodils are white or yellow." True, but for someone who experiences synesthesia, everything is colorful; the numbers, the days, the countries, the names, the melodies and sounds, the months, the people, the foods, the objects, everything you can think of.

In other words, it is a condition in which information received from the various senses is mixed. In the past, psychology considered it a disorder, after all, how could a person go through their life when the senses become an uncontrollable salad? But as the years passed and studies on the subject began to emerge, researchers have started to notice that the connection between the senses can actually be beneficial. For example, when trying to remember things! Imagine how easy it is to memorize information when each detail is color coded and stands out to the eye.

Synesthesia and me

Until my teenage years, I was convinced that everyone experienced the world the same way I did! I thought that everyone knew that February was blue, that Germany was green and that France was brown. Well, imagine how surprised I was when I discovered that the colors spoke only to me.

I was even more surprised to discover that there are three types of synesthesia: tastes, sounds and colors, like mine. For example, if February is blue for me, for another person experiencing the same condition, February might be green and for a person with synesthesia of tastes, February could taste like an orange, or a banana.

Over the years, I also discovered that it is hereditary. When I was young, I went to my father and asked, after I had already researched a little about synesthesia, if he also experienced it. He looked at me in bewilderment and asked, "What is it?" To test the issue, I simply asked him what color the month of June was. When he immidately answered: "usually teal" that was all I needed to know.

But what does it mean "February is blue"? You can't see it at all!

True, but just as we could say February is characterized by being short and cold, for me another characteristic would be that it is blue. Just like that. As you probably guessed, I have color synesthesia, it is also the most common type.

I know, it sounds crazy. Almost out of this world. And to be honest, even researchers haven't fully understood it yet. One study claims that during our childhood years, a partition develops between the right and left sides of the brain, separating the analytical side from the "creative" side. That partition doesn't develop in some people, and that's how the mixing of senses, synesthesia, is created.

By the way! I'm proud to share it with some famous people like Nikola Tesla, Beyonce, and even Mozart! How cool is that?

How do I utilize it?

Throughout my life, I discovered that thanks to my synesthesia, I better remember combinations and sequences of numbers in all kinds of situations! For example, during my college years, I remembered which class I should attend by the color of the class and not by the number. For example, yellow-white-red and not 312. Each number has its own color and this way I could organize my thoughts. I found it even more effectivewhen I worked at a bank and numbers were everywhere all the time.

In addition, my synesthesia doesn't change between languages. That is, if in Hebrew 'שתיים' is res, in English 'two' will also be red!

Synesthesia and my art

Colors symbolize more than just their existence as colors to me. When I look at a color, a multitude of associations related to each color come to mind, including not only emotions (e.g. love and fear), but also numbers, countries, letters, seasons, and more.

That is, when I combine colors in my art, I not only match the colors themselves but also in every other way. It's a little complicated to explain, but for me behind every color there is an idea, and when the ideas, the colors combine together, depth, a unique meaning is created.

These are not always elements that come across to those who look at my works, but it comes from me - from the most personal place where I experience the world.

For example, let's go back to the color red. It is a well-known symbol of love or life, but for me it is also the number 2, the month of July, the letter L, the country Spain, and even certain people in my life. Let's say I want to add yellow next to it, which sometimes symbolizes anxiety or joy, but for me it is the number 3 and the city of Beersheba for some reason. In practice, there is no conceptual connection between the colors and I will probably look for another color in place of yellow, which will fit in more balancedly and correctly with everything that red symbolizes for me.

Creation from the soul

The human brain is a wonderful machine, and even when it has some "glitch" or other, we can channel it to our advantage. There is no doubt that at first glance, synesthesia may seem like something almost alien - I thought it was a problem at first, too.

As I have grown, I have learned to appreciate the blessing I have received. The special gift that shows me the world in its most natural and, on the other hand, abstract way. A gift that I use not only in art, but in every aspect of my life.

I invite you to look at the world a little differently, and even more so at yourself. To leverage those "quirks" and turn them into what is unique, what is good, what makes you who you are. Once you embrace these qualities, you will discover that they can be useful and do good.

מאחורי כל צבע יש רעיון, וכשהרעיונות - הצבעים משתלבים יחד, נוצר עומק, משמעות ייחודית.