Over the past decade the relationship between the visual arts and olfaction has moved beyond the boundaries of teasing, humorous and entertaining, to an expansive and distinct contemplation. [...] Olfactory Art is a contemporary modality of expression in which creators intentionally engage a very unique human sense in their practice - that of smell.
— From Olfactory Art: A New Genre at Psychology Today, with many thanks to Jennifer for the link!
“The charismatic German artist Joseph Beuys, (1921-1986), worked with decaying materials, such as earth, animal fat, blood, wax and honey, that produced pungent and putrefying smells but advanced his philosophical and political ideas about death and transformation.” Next Etat Libre d’Orange?
LOL — probably!
Are these pieces supposed to be visually striking as well, I wonder, or strictly about the scent of the materials used ? The smell of a painting or sculpture will have an effect on how it is viewed as a whole. It will make the meaning of the piece less subjective, too.
There is so much going on in this arena that it’s hard to generalize…some are visual as well, some aren’t.
Thanks for that link! The possibilities of this becoming an art movement excite me — this is an untapped realm.
As a former toy designer (one of the creative hats I wear), I was alternately horrified and intrigued to recently learn that a very popular toy series here in Holland is “Stinkers”. These are grotesque little dolls. When their heads are pinched, they exude a disgusting stench. Some of the odors are vomit, armpit, toe “cheese”, manure… well, you get the idea. But who knows, maybe the kids who love these are having their olfactory senses stimulated and will go on to become perfumistas or artists who incorporate scent into their work.
It is not so very untapped — we report on smell-related conceptual art frequently, and it’s not even our specialty.
I must have missed those articles. I’ll certainly be on the lookout from now on. Thanks, Robin. I find it exciting.
Under the article above, click on the ‘conceptual art’ tag — but I know I miss all kinds of things in this area!