The Visual Music Experience

MSP Terminal 1, Airport Mall Gallery
September 2023 - September 2024

Minnesota-based painter Michael DeMeglio’s visual interpretations offer a dynamic and interactive link between the view and the sound of Beethoven’s infamous 5th Symphony.

Inspired by the old masters of both expressionist and impressionist movements, DeMeglio painted with feeling more than precision as he immersed himself in the life and mind of the composer. What began as a purely intuitive artistic expression of the music, once finished, became a fascinating study of the person who could create it.

"At the core of my connection to the man was his loss of hearing. While I have spent my entire life in deafness, I found myself contemplating what it would be like as a visual artist to lose my sight. That most fundamental understanding of this element of loss leads one helplessly into the pure imagination that drove Beethoven’s work. Visual inspiration inevitably followed." -Michael DeMeglio

While he could not identify with the volatility and anger that Beethoven was often noted for, DeMeglio connected with other parts of Beethoven’s historical inspiration. In these paintings, DeMeglio interprets Beethoven’s love of the outdoors, his patriotism toward the Napoleonic movement, and how his sentiment changed as Napoleon became more despotic.

"My wish to the viewer is that you will experience each of the pieces I have created as an immersive layer to complement the purity of the sound that inspired it. Just for a while, to step away from the noise of the world and into the quiet joy of expression." -Michael DeMeglio

About the artist
Michael DeMeglio is originally from the Detroit area and studied Graphic Design at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. He does not limit his works to a specific medium, instead choosing acrylic, oil, watercolor, or a combination as the piece calls for it. When not painting, Michael is a deaf-blind intervener working closely with students who have visual and auditory loss.