How do you see music?

Farhad Ostovani explores this question in his Goldberg Variations.  Born in Iran in 1950, Ostovani is a Paris-based artist known for his conceptual studies of natural subjects. In this series, Ostovani translates the experience of hearing Johann Sebastian Bach’s composition for keyboard, the Goldberg Variations, into visual works of art.  Inspired by nature and informed by his own personal history, Ostovani uses plant imagery–the stems and leaves of roses—as visual symbols to represent music. Rendered in ink and chalk, by print or brush, these vegetal forms rise and fall across the gallery walls.  Farhad Ostovani: Goldberg Variations features key works from this series and 20 ink on paper studies that reveal the artist’s process. While in the gallery, visitors call listen to the same recording of Tatiana Nikolayeva (1924–1993) playing the Goldberg Variations that inspired Ostovani and look for connections across art forms.

Organized by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Generous support provided by the Cherafat Family Foundation and McCownGordon Construction.