HOW TO ENJOY /7S/

INSTRUCTIONS TO OUR GALLERY VISITORS

This exhibition is unusual in that is asks more of the viewer than simply to look at 'pictures.' As the subtitle of the exhibition indicates 'an olfactory installation' the viewer is asked to smell, sniff, and exercise the olfactory imagination, alongside the visual sense. Although the exhibition presents items that vaguely look like visual art the true object of this exhibition is the experience of smell.

The idea of this exhibition by artist S (Nobi Shioya) is to bring together seven of the world's most outstanding perfumers to create olfactory representations of the seven deadly sins. Each perfumer was chosen by S to create a smell that represents one deadly sin, based on the character, personality, and previous work of the perfumer. On the main wall in the gallery each sin is represented by one image (photographs by S) with its latin name imprinted on it. In front of these images hang hydrocal casts of oversized perfume bottles impregnated with the fragrance designed by the seven perfumers. 

To appreciate this exhibition fully put your nose close to the hanging sculpture and inhale slowly and deeply -- close your eyes and contemplate the implications of your response to the smells you experience -- repeat if you want to explore further. When finished with one 'sin' exhale deeply and vigorously several times before moving on to the next 'bottle.'

On the remainder of the walls are 'self-portraits' of the perfumers grouped in sets of black squares. The perfumers' initials are on the larger squares to the left of the group emitting a fragrance that the perfumers have created to describe themselves in terms of fragrance. These are followed by smaller squares imprinted with the initials (as html addresses) of the fragrances that they have created and are famous for (a partial 'resume'). The slit in each canvas allows the fragrance that it represents to seep out slowly. To fully experience the fragrance put your nose close to the slit and inhale deeply -- clear your nose by exhaling vigorously several times before moving on.

To explore the exhibition further, use the screen in the gallery  by way of html addresses of the fragrances and enjoy....

Robert Thurmer, Art Gallery Director