In a bold and uniquely personal creative endeavour, Cairns-based artist Emma Cam has unveiled her vision for 2026: a year-long project inspired by her experience of synesthesia, where she will follow a single colour across the Australian landscape.
A Sensory-Inspired Artistic Journey
The project, deeply rooted in Cam's neurological condition of synesthesia – a blending of the senses where she perceives colours when hearing music – will see her dedicate the entire year of 2026 to exploring one, as-yet-unrevealed colour. Her plan is to travel to locations where this colour manifests powerfully in nature, culture, or urban environments, using it as a lens to document and create.
Emma Cam is a well-known figure in the Cairns arts scene, celebrated for her vibrant paintings and multimedia installations that often translate auditory experiences into visual spectacles. Her synesthesia has long been the engine of her creativity, but this project marks its most direct and ambitious application to date.
The Mechanics of a Colour-Focused Year
While the specific colour remains a secret, Cam has outlined the framework of her upcoming year. She intends to immerse herself in environments dominated by her chosen hue. This could mean chasing the specific green of a rainforest canopy in Far North Queensland, the particular red of outback soil in the Northern Territory, or the unique blue of a coastal Victorian sea.
At each location, she will engage in community interaction, artistic creation, and documentation. The goal is not just to photograph or paint the colour, but to understand its emotional, cultural, and environmental resonance in different parts of Australia. She plans to produce a series of artworks, a photographic diary, and potentially a documentary film from the collected experiences.
The project is slated to officially commence in January 2026, with preliminary research and route planning occurring throughout 2025. Cam is currently seeking partnerships and funding opportunities to support the extensive travel and production involved.
Community Connection and Creative Outcomes
Beyond a personal artistic pilgrimage, Cam envisions the project as a conduit for community connection. She hopes to collaborate with local artists, schools, and cultural groups in the towns she visits, running workshops that explore personal relationships with colour and perception.
The final output, she suggests, will be a multifaceted portrait of Australia seen through a singular, vibrant lens. This synesthesia-inspired approach challenges conventional observational methods, proposing that limiting one's focus can, paradoxically, open up a deeper, more nuanced understanding of place and identity.
For the Cairns community and the wider Australian arts sector, Emma Cam's 2026 project stands as a testament to the power of neurodiverse thinking in creative practice. It promises a unique fusion of travelogue, environmental observation, and sensory exploration, all filtered through the compelling vision of an artist for whom colour is more than just visual – it's a feeling, a sound, and a path to follow.
