Ismael Beah
Monday 28 January 2008 21:45-22:30 (Radio 3)
Kenan Malik explores the condition of synaesthesia, in which the stimulation of one sense leads to an involuntary experience in another.
Messiaen claimed to be affected by it and as the centenary of his birth approaches Night Waves talks to a synaesthetic artist and a neuroscientist about the links between synaesthesia and creativity.
Also, Kenan talks to Ismael Beah from Sierra Leone, who, at the age of 12 became one of the country's 300,000 child soldiers, but later came to write a best-selling book about his experiences.
And as the search for an artist for a new 20 million pound sculpture in Kent is about to be decided by shortlist, Kenan talks to art critic Richard Cork and cultural commentator Stephen Bayley about whether competition is healthy for the visual arts.
Playlist
Synaesthesia
Kenan Malik explores Synaesthesia. A surprising number of artists are said to have synaesthesia, including the composer Messiaen, the painter David Hockney and the writer Nabukov.
This condition involves the stimulation of one sense automatically leading to an involuntary experience in another. So a C major chord could be dark blue, or the number 8, bright Orange.
As the centenary of Messiaen's birth approaches Night Waves talks to a synaesthetic artist and a neuroscientist about the links between Synaesthesia and creativity.
Ismael Beah
Kenan talks to Ismael Beah who, at the age of twelve, became embroiled in the violence that so recently overwhelmed Sierra Leone.
Beah was forced to flee his village and hide in the countryside. He soon become involved in fighting against the rebels and became one of the country's 300,000 child soldiers, high on drugs and unspeakable violence.
Kenan finds out why he did it and how he came to write a best selling book about his experiences.
A Long Way Gone is published by Harper Collins.
Creating Art by Competition
And the process of finding an artist for a new 40 metre high £20 million sculpture in North Kent is being decided by shortlist. Has the recent interest in public art led to a new way of deciding artistic commissions - by competition?
Already used widely in the architectural world, how healthy is this development for the visual arts?
Kenan talks to art critic Richard Cork and cultural commentator Stephen Bayley about creating art by competition.
Nationalism and Turkish History.
Turkish academic Atilla Yayla today received a 15 month suspended sentence for insulting the founder of the Turkish state, Kemal Ataturk. Professor Eser Karakas of Turkey's Bahcesehir University joins Kenan to give the response from the academic community.
Ashes to Ashes
Cultural commentator Stephen Bayley and reviewer Hermione Eyre join Kenan to review the forthcoming sequel to time-twisting police drama Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes.
