Artist Anicka Yi will launch Biography, a trio of fragrances, in November. Shigenobu Twilight, Radical Hopelessness and Beyond Skin were inspired by radical female figures and developed in collaboration with perfumer Barnabé Fillion.
Biography is the writing of life.
Biography is a disruption in the steady flow of sensation.
Biography is mutation.
Biography is the articulation of desire.
Shigenobu Twilight — "The first volume in the Biography series, Shigenobu Twilight, is inspired by Fusako Shigenobu, fabled leader of the Japanese Red Army. The perfume’s esoteric notes intimate metaphors of Shigenobu’s stateless existence, exiled in Lebanon while yearning for her native Japan. Originally designed in 2007 by Yi and architect Maggie Peng, Shigenobu Twilight has been specially reformulated for the Biography series by perfumer Barnabé Fillion. Grounded by a woody base of cedar, the fragrance combines top notes of yuzu fruit, shiso leaf and black pepper as well as heart notes of thyme and frankincense."
Radical Hopelessness ~ "Based on Hatshepsut, female pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, Radical Hopelessness evokes the ruler’s sharp intellect and radiant desert kingdom. To keep her throne, Hatshepsut strategically mixed aspects of masculine, feminine, animal, and divine power. The lingering sillage of Radical Hopelessness mimics Hatshepsut’s lasting legacy—records of her brilliance survived a posthumous erasure campaign meant to discourage future female kings. Piquant top notes of pink pepper, juniper, and cardamom, as well as heart notes of iris and Angelica root are smoothed by a lush sandalwood and patchouli base."
Beyond Skin ~ "Looking to the future, Beyond Skin, is based on a hypothetical artificial intelligence entity. The fragrance imagines a machine that holds the individual and collective history of every woman in a single, composite scent. Not limited to a binary partnership of human and machine, Beyond Skin embraces untamed animal and vegetable characteristics to form a fully hybridized olfactory experience. Dark, fleshy base notes of suede and myrrh are complemented by an earthy, herbal core of indole and rose, while spicy, animalistic top notes of civet, cumin, and cloves are set off by a hint of red seaweed."
Biography Fragrance Shigenobu Twilight, Radical Hopelessness and Beyond Skin will debut at Dover Street Market in the US, $250 each in an edition of 1000 bottles.
(first quote via biographyfragrance, subsequent quotes via Biography Fragrance at Instagram, additional information via news.artnet)
Those bottles are…something.
One has ants, one has flies, one has ladybugs.
I actually like weird and creepy stuff along those lines, but since the design also shows you exactly how much space is dedicated to holding perfume….it just seems like a lot of wasted space. Why do the bottles need to be so big?
It’s a conceptual art project — I don’t want to speak for the artist but I can see how the bottle might be as important to her as the juice.
Er…I read that the bottles have real ladybirds, ants & flies embedded in them, which is ….interesting. ?
Not sure whether I would want a literal bug graveyard in my bedroom !
Ha, just said that above before I saw your comment. I would have put this info in the article except I wasn’t sure which scent had which bug.
P.S. I’m guessing that those 5000 bugs all died peacefully of old age & signed a waiver allowing their bodies to be sealed in plastic for the sake of art ??
??
Can I just say that ant emoji does not look like an ant, and why is there no fly emoji yet, that’s crazy!
My say something nice is that I like ladybugs when I see them on my plants. Most of these notes appeal to me.
They’re dead, wrapped in plastic.
Lol! I’ll call Agent Cooper.
This made me spew tea.
Looks like one of those prank plastic ice cubes with the fake fly inside… yeccccchhh!