Nina tastes the music of wine
Meet Nina Nova, the synesthete artist who can’t help but hear sounds when she sips wine
Nina Nova creating a live painting in response to improvised jazz. Image: Jo Burzynska
I clearly recall the first time I encountered Nina Nova. It was at an event called The Taste of Purple in Sydney, where Nina channelled her synesthesia into the creation of a painting live in response to a jazz duo’s improvised performance. When I got talking to her afterwards and told her about my field of research, she revealed that one of the ways her synesthesia manifests is when tasting wine she hears a complex pattern of sounds. Excited and intrigued, I invited Nina to be part of my research. This uncovered fascinating insights into the powerful interactions she experiences between her senses. It also disclosed what the wider population might share with synesthetes, and suggested how this could help make us all more sensitive tasters and listeners.