
My new piece “Open window in Collioure” is a homage to one of my favorite artists: Matisse, and his painting “Open window, Collioure, 1905.
Matisse spend the summer 1905 in Collioure together with other fauve artists. They were attracted to the light and mediterranean colors. Collioure is a picturesque fishing village between the sea and the mountains, and has inspired many artists. It belongs to the Roussillon region, close to the spanish border.
Matisse´s painting seems spontaneous, and you can follow every brushstroke he made. By leaving spaces with unpainted canvas, Matisse wants to make sure you are looking at a painting, and not actually out of a window. Matisse uses colors in a interesting way, contrast colors and bright and dark.
In “Notes of a painter” Matisse explains: “The entire arrangement of my picture is expressive. Composition is the art of arranging in a decorative manner, the diverse elements at the painters command to express his feelings.”
I try to look out of the window of Matisse and capture the atmosphere of the moment, the smells of the mediterranean and the evolution of the day.
My piece uses the pentatonic 5 tone scale, which is originally ancient greek.I use this scale in remembrance to the first population living in this area of Roussillon in 450 BC: The Greek.
In some parts of the piece, I use a brush on the guitar, to connect with the painting. With the brush I want to capture the light in the early morning over the sea.
The music slowly develops with a little more movement, but still peaceful. AT the end it gets poetic and thoughtful.
My family and I have a very close bond to Collioure. My father vacationed there as a child, and afterwards my family spent the summers there with joy.
It definitely gave me the passion for the Mediterranean culture.