The artist’s interest in sound and color stems from her background in music. Vesela Sretenovi ć, Director of Contemporary Art Initiatives and Academic Affairs, notes, “ What Glass’s music and Lu’s painting share is sternness and rigor, but also something atmospheric and dreamy they evoke stillness and wonder, emotion and reflection.” Repetitive notes and chords from Glass’s music are translated into a physical space: the seven notes played on the piano by the left hand are represented by seven paintings on the left side of the gallery and the five notes played by the right hand are represented by five paintings on the right side of the gallery. Lu’s paintings visualize the sound into a spatial configuration-soundwaves. 16 played on piano by Timo Andres as part of the 2015 Phillips Music program. Soundwaves responds to Philip Glass’s Etude no. Ranging in scale from small to human-size, the circular canvases (tondos), are equally hypnotic and sonic, inspiring contemplation and introspection. On view from February 9–April 30, 2023, Soundwaves features Lu’s signature works of abstract paintings with concentric rings of bright, pulsating colors. WASHINGTON, DC - The Phillips Collection presents Soundwaves by Baltimore-based artist Linling Lu, the first project in 2023 of the museum’s ongoing Intersections contemporary art series. Lu’s installation visualizes the sounds of Philip Glass’s Etude no.

Soundwaves circular background