Unit 1 Critical Reflection
Changhong Sun
My main area of research is about the energetic and aromatic qualities of plants. I did a series of research focusing on looking at the subject from a scientific perspective and at the same time to analyse the presence of energy from a personal point of view. I am mainly interested in the use of olfactory art and try to connect my results and research to relevant artworks and artists. There are many of them like me who choose to use fragrance to complete their work and convey themes related to smell. Which are usually reminding one’s and collective memories. The information that can be received by someone sense of observation is both private and common. The topic I choose to present with smell is making perfume for a person or a city and turning it into a visual work, which is usually a piece of painting/drawing showing the energy flow and characteristics of the perfume.
Perfuming Making Process, 2023
Unit 1 Mind Map, 2023
From a scientific point of view, plants contain energy in the form of carbohydrates, such as sugars and starches, which are produced through the process of photosynthesis. These carbohydrates can be used as a source of energy for the plant itself and other organisms that consume the plant. Additionally, plants also store energy in the form of cellulose in their cell walls and oils in their seeds.
People believe that plants do not have the capacity for emotions or consciousness like humans and animals do. They do not have nervous systems or brains that allow for the experience of emotions or consciousness. However, plants do respond to their environment in various ways, such as through the process of photosynthesis, the opening and closing of their stomata, and the growth of their leaves and roots. These responses may appear similar to behaviours associated with emotions or consciousness, but they do not result from emotions or consciousness.
Some studies have shown that certain smells, including those of certain plants, can evoke memories and emotions in humans. This phenomenon is known as olfactory memory, and it is believed to be related to how the olfactory system is closely connected to the limbic system in the brain, which is involved in processing emotions and memories. The aroma of certain plants can also have a therapeutic effect and can be used in aromatherapy to help reduce stress and promote relaxation. Additionally, certain plants are known to have specific aromas that can help to create a certain ambience and enhance the overall mood of a space.
For My Dearest, Perfume I made, 2023
It is possible for artists to depict the characteristics of aroma in a painting, although it may be challenging to do so in a literal sense. Aromas are typically experienced through the sense of smell rather than sight. However, an artist can use visual elements such as colour, texture, and composition to evoke the feeling or atmosphere associated with a particular aroma. For example, an artist could use warm colours to depict the aroma of freshly baked bread or cool colours to depict the aroma of a forest after rain. An artist can also use the representation of plants or flowers in a painting to suggest the presence of a specific aroma.
Additionally, some artists use olfactory art to create work that engages with the sense of smell. In this type of art, the artist creates an installation that includes scents to be experienced by the viewer, along with the visual components. This approach is also known as "scent painting", and it is a multi-disciplinary field that combines art, design, science, and technology.
Olfactory art, also known as scent art or smell art, is an art form that uses smells as a medium for creative expression. The specialities of olfactory art include the use of various scent-producing materials, such as essential oils, perfumes, and other fragrances, as well as the use of technology to create and disperse the scents. Artists working in this medium may also explore the psychological and emotional effects of specific scents on the viewer, as well as the relationship between scent and memory.
Brighton & Memories, series of work I have done to reappearing the smell and memories about Brighton, 2022
The experience of viewing olfactory art can evoke the audience's memories and feelings of nostalgia. For example, a scent associated with a particular place or time can bring back memories and emotions associated with that time and place. It can also evoke strong emotional reactions in the audience. For example, a scent associated with a specific emotion, such as joy or sadness. Apart from that, Olfactory art can engage the viewer in a more immersive and multisensory experience, as they are not only looking at the artwork but also experiencing it through the sense of smell. This can make the audience more deeply engaged and connected to the artwork. Olfactory art can also elicit surprise and curiosity in the audience, as they may not expect to be able to smell the artwork. They may be interested in how the artist created the scent and how it relates to the artwork. There are impacts on feelings of relaxation and meditation, especially when the scent is associated with nature, such as the scent of a forest or a meadow; this can have a calming effect on the audience.
Many artists choose to work with smell to deliver specific information. Maki Ueda is a Japanese artist who creates scent-based associated with specific memories or emotions, such as the smell of childhood or a specific place and produce installations and perfumes as an art form. Her interest often inspires her works in the relationship between the sense of smell and memory, produce emotional and psychological effects of smells on the viewer. Additionally, her works often include the use of visual elements, such as photographs, videos, and sculptures, to enhance the viewer's experience of the scent.
Maki Ueda/Kensyu Shintsubo/Fuyuki Yamakawa, Olfactory labyrinth ver.1 installation (2013)
In this show Ueda hang numbers of tiny bottle filled with essential oil with kinds of scents. Each of the scents remind the audience a particular memory or experience, which is similar to what I did for current project, the group of work “Brighton”. What I try to deliver is my personal feelings that incommensurable with others. My work is not just presenting the perfume but also combining photos and paintings to recreate a more complete image.
Yoshitomo Nara is a contemporary Japanese artist known for his paintings, sculptures, and installations. He is known for his childlike, cartoonish figures and his work often deals with themes of rebellion, loneliness, and innocence. Nara's work often features cute, childlike characters with oversized heads, expressive faces and elongated limbs. These figures often appear in paintings, sculptures and installations and are used to express a range of emotions such as anger, sadness, joy, and rebellion.
His work is also known for its focus on the inner feelings of children and teenagers, as well as the social and political issues that affect them. He explores themes of alienation, identity, and the complexities of growing up. Additionally, Nara has also created a series of scented paintings, where he uses various scents to create a multisensory experience for the viewer. He uses the painting as a medium to convey emotions and memories, and the smells as an additional layer to enhance the emotional impact of the artwork.
Yoshitomo Nara, Submarines in Girl, 1992, Acrylic on canvas. 39.4 x 59.1 in | 100 x 150 cm
Sissel Tolaas is a Norwegian artist who creates scent installations and performances, often using smells associated with specific places or emotions. She is known for her research-based approach to creating and using smells. Tolaas also often explores the relationship between smell and memory, and how specific scents can evoke memories and emotions in the viewer. Her work also touches on the social and cultural aspects of smell and its uses. She also conducts research on smells and its effects, the development of a "smell vocabulary" and the relationships between smell, language, and perception. Tolaas works with architects, designers, and researchers on projects that focus on the role of smell in our environment and how it can be used to enhance the human experience.
Sissel Tolaas, Self-Life Fountain, 2005–ongoing, installation view
X Christophe Laudamiel is a renowned perfumer known for his innovative and boundary-pushing approach to fragrance creation which is unique and memorable. He is always incorporating unexpected ingredients and pushing the boundaries of traditional fragrance families. Laudamiel is particularly known for his work in the area of olfactory branding, where he creates bespoke fragrances for companies and organizations. He has created signature scents for several well-known brands.
Christophe Laudamiel, Phantosmia, installation view, 2012
The key smell of the exhibition is called “The Remembrance of Things Lost”. Each tent blocks off individual auras, while the scent of the entire gallery serves as a reference for readjusting the nose. I am spired by the way Laudamiel present his work. Which is about how to make numbers of scents exist within the same place without they Interrupted by each other or blended. The use of tent solves the problem that I am worried about. The audience can just walk inside and feel the smell and then enter another space to enjoy a different atmosphere. Each of the area is independent but at the same time linked together.
Although the existence of energy and spirit in plants is still in doubt, and there is no research to support the possibility of energetic interaction at this stage, the experience of others and I is indicative of similar phenomena occurring in practice. When we encounter plants, we can understand the energy generated and diffused by talking to them with our hearts and feeling the subtle surges. This is why I insist on using pure plant material to complete my work, believing that what I can feel if communicated effectively, can be empathised with by the viewer. This is also reflected in the work of many other artists who have studied olfactory art. Although the topics explored vary, they all converge to explore the effects of smell on human perception and memory. In a broader sense, olfactory art is all moving in the same direction, towards more possibilities, exploring and expanding artistic expression. This is also reflected in my paintings and perfumes.
For My Dearest, Drawing and Formula for perfume. 2023
Reference List:
Ueda, M. (2023) Maki Ueda, MAKI UEDA. Available at: https://ueda.nl/index.php?lang=en (Accessed: January 30, 2023).
What does art smell like? (2020) ELEPHANT. Available at: https://elephant.art/what-does-art-smell-henry-hitchings/ (Accessed: January 30, 2023).
Made in asia - opera gallery (2018) Opera Gallery. Available at: https://www.operagallery.com/storage/exhibitions/433.pdf (Accessed: January 30, 2023).
Vermeulen, T. (2021) Sissel Tolaas and the politics of Smell, Frieze. Available at: https://www.frieze.com/article/sissel-tolaas-re-2021-review (Accessed: January 30, 2023).
About Christophe Laudamiel: Dreamair LLC (2010) About Christophe Laudamiel - DreamAir LLC. Available at: https://www.dreamair.mobi/christophe-laudamiel (Accessed: January 30, 2023).
Lickstein, S. (2012) Christophe Laudamiel – Phantosmia – all but the smell, NOWhere Limited Contemporary Art. Available at: https://nowherelimited.com/christophe-laudamiel-phantosmia-all-but-the-smell.html (Accessed: January 30, 2023).
O'Driscoll, D. (2022) Plant Spirit Communication Part IV: Medicine for the body and the soul, The Druids Garden. Available at: https://thedruidsgarden.com/2018/09/09/plant-spirit-communication-part-iv-medicine-for-the-body-and-the-soul/ (Accessed: January 31, 2023).
McKenna, D. (no date) Plant Spirit Shamanism, Plant spirit shamanism - american botanical council. Available at: https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/78/table-of-contents/article3240/ (Accessed: January 31, 2023).
Vanderlinden, C. (2022) Does talking to plants really make them grow?, The Spruce. The Spruce. Available at: https://www.thespruce.com/should-you-talk-to-your-plants-3972298 (Accessed: January 31, 2023).
Lane, J. (2022) Can I use essential oils as perfume? floral, fruity, or earthy, Can I Use Essential Oils as Perfume? Floral, Fruity, or Earthy – Loving Essential Oils. Available at: https://www.lovingessentialoils.com/blogs/aromatherapy-news/can-i-use-essential-oils-as-perfume (Accessed: January 31, 2023).