The ephemeral materiality of scent eludes the conventions of visual representation. Instead, the specific sensory qualities of the sense of smell remind us of the many constraints of our snapshot society. Thus, one of the more recent projects initiated by Scent Culture Institute is an open collection of visual material that addresses the visual challenges of scent culture: How are scents rendered visual? This is the unterlying question of the insights (e.g. images, scetches, logos, posters, ads, snapshots, clips and pictures etc.) that we share on Instagram.
Pyramids visualizing the temporal dimension!?
Think about the temporal dimension: Visualizations in perfumery hardly capture the temporal dimension of olfactory experience: Pyramids, Piecharts or spreadsheets are widely used forms of visual representation when developing or discussing a fragrance. Yet, a well designed fragrance is expected to unfold in time. But where and how can you see the temporal dimension? Pyramids? Piecharts? Or spreadsheets are forms that usually capture a certain point in time. What do you think? Have you used or seen alternatives?
The project follows an exploratory orientation and aims at a better understanding of the ambivalent resonances of the sense of smell in culture and society. The selection is certainly open to criticism. Yet, more importantly, submissions of interesting discoveries or commentaries are more than welcome.
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