How I See You: Synesthesia Diaries

Synesthesia is a neurological trait that causes a blending of multiple senses. For some people, it means sounds are related to tastes. For others, words are associated with shapes. My synesthesia is most often connected to color.

If I know you, you’re stored in my brain under a specific color. That means, when I think of you, I see magenta or baby blue or vibrant yellow. Sometimes these colors are connected to specific things: the red dress you wore the first time we met or the green of your eyes. But most often, it’s something less tangible, harder to grasp- the tone of your voice, your bold personality, your hometown. I don’t consciously pick these colors. They just… are.

My ongoing portrait series “How I See You” is a playful exploration of my synesthesia and a window into the way I perceive the people around me.