ABSTRACT
Titled RYXPER1126AE, this fragrance work by Dorota Gawęda and Eglė Kulbokaitė is a synthetic molecular recreation of the scent experienced during their SULK (2018) performance at ANTI, the 6th Athens Biennial. Produced in collaboration with experts from International Flavors and Fragrances Inc., it is based on air samples collected using headspace technology. This olfactory creation serves as a poetic memory of shared collective experiences and explores smell as a method of documenting performance and space. RYXPER1126AE raises questions about the transition from the virtual to the real and the evanescent nature of scent, which influences our perceptions and interactions in ways that elude easy explanation. The work is presented through various mediums, including industrial aroma diffusers, a polished steel Censer sculpture, and ghostly installations inspired by the same performance series, known as Leave No Trace.
