The Use of 'Scent' as an Artistic Medium: A Case Study on Scent, Culture, and Spatial Creation in the Installations of Montien Boonma and Ernesto Neto

Abstract

The use of “scent” as a medium in art raises the question of how artists incorporate scent into their creative process, shaping and expressing concepts in multifaceted ways. This study explores the contemporary oeuvres of artists who harness scent as a medium to sculpt evocative spatial narratives, particularly within the realm of installation art, exemplified by the works of Montien Boonma and Ernesto Neto. The study focuses on the materials or objects emitting scent, exploring the origin and significance of olfaction within its environmental context. Additionally, it investigates how scent-infused installations can more profoundly impact viewers than other art forms. The research reveals that artists use scent as a medium to explore various subjects: 1) Scents derived from the individual memories of the artist. 2) Culturally infused scents stemming from shared traditions, rituals, and beliefs between artist and spectator. And 3) Universal olfactory aspects reflecting reciprocal interactions of the atmosphere or situation, as experienced through inhaling scents within artistic creations. Despite potential cultural, ethnic and religious disparities, both Boonma and Neto leverage scent as an artistic conduit, harnessing the identity of materials imbued with collective cultural memories and creating works that provide insights from the artist’s perspective.