Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis was a Lithuanian painter, composer and writer. He contributed to symbolism and art nouveau and was representative of the fin de siècle epoch. Ciurlionis has been considered one of the pioneers of abstract art in Europe. During his short life he composed about 400 pieces of music and created about 300 paintings, as well as many literary works and poems. His works have had a profound influence on modern Lithuanian culture. Ciurlionis felt that he was a synesthete; that is, he perceived colors and music simultaneously. Many of his paintings bear the names of musical pieces: sonatas, fugues, and preludes.His works have been displayed at international exhibitions in Japan, Germany, Spain, and elsewhere. His paintings were featured at "Visual Music" fest, an homage to synesthesia that included the works of Wassily Kandinsky, James McNeill Whistler, and Pau l Klee, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.