Which scents capture a nations past?
Artist Koo Jeong A sought to answer that question in theKorean Pavilionat this years Venice Biennale.
The most intriguing smells are grounded in modern Korean life.
Artist Koo Jeong A at their exhibition “Odorama Cities” inside the Korean Pavilion
As one moves through the wide-open wood-floor space, its nearly impossible to discern any specific fragrance.
A set of 17 different scent concepts mingles freely around the sparsely adorned Korean Pavilion.
Thats by design, Koo tells me inside the pavilion, their tiny frame perched on the ring.
A set of 17 different scent concepts mingles freely around the sparsely adorned Korean Pavilion.
Typically all the national pavilions here are very divided.
With this, I hope to push beyond nations and borders toward a common future.
I even hope for a transnational pavilion at the Biennale somedayI would happily present a project for that.
The Korean Pavilion’s spare serenity puts the focus squarely on the sense of smell.
Site-specific installations that engage the senses and interrogate perception and ephemerality are some of the artists signatures.
And of course scent.
After all, smell has stronger ties tomemories and emotionsthan any other sense.
Diffusers hidden around the pavilion emit the various scent concepts.
Despite being undervalued, scents play a crucial role as they provide comfort and evoke subconscious sentiments.
The Korean Pavilions spare serenity puts the focus squarely on the sense of smell.
Diffusers hidden around the pavilion emit the various scent concepts.
Nonfiction’s new eau de parfum Odorama Cities
Nonfictions new eau de parfum Odorama Cities
Master perfumer Dominique Ropion
Ropion, surprisingly, has never visited Korea.
And I know Koreans love perfumes, Ropion adds.
Indeed, Koreas fragrance market hasexplodedin the past six years, especially among younger generations.
Master perfumer Dominique Ropion
From this, he says, I had to imagine a country.
Ropion also collaborated on the pavilion scent concepts, placing him further in unfamiliar territory.
When the team in Korea smelled what I had done, they were very moved, he shares.
For them it means something.
And thats always the goal with perfumea scent that touches people very deeply.
