As I read about the concept of interdisciplinary artists, termed as Artist-Musicians and Musician-Artists by Hoffmann and Naumann, my thoughts gravitate towards Richard Wagner’s notion of “Gesamtkunstwerk” – the total work of art dating back to the mid-19th century. Wagner envisioned a synthesis of music, drama, poetry, visual arts, and stagecraft into one unified piece, believing it would create a more immersive and emotionally powerful experience for the audience— “The true drama is only conceivable as proceeding from a common urgence of every art towards the most direct appeal to a common public” (The Art-Work of the Future, 1849).

It’s fascinating to see how contemporary artists are intriguingly blurring the lines between music and visual arts. With the ongoing digitalization of media, the alignment between visual and musical techniques intensifies. Particularly in live-coding, artists seamlessly integrate diverse elements, embodying Wagner’s vision of synthesizing art forms. Thus, they offer a sensory-rich experience for audiences, maintaining the legacy of Gesamtkunstwerk.