- Anicka Yi Perfumer:
Anicka Yi is a trailblazing artist who has carved out a unique niche at the intersection of art, science, and scent. Born in 1971 in Seoul, South Korea, and now based in New York, she has been a pivotal figure in the contemporary art scene for over a decade.
Yi's work is a profound exploration of the "biopolitics of the senses." She delves into how our sensory experiences are intricately shaped by both cultural and biological forces. Departing from traditional artistic norms, she employs a range of organic and ephemeral materials. Bacteria, for instance, are used not just as mere components but as agents that bring a sense of the living and evolving into her art. Scents, another crucial element in her toolkit, are used to create immersive experiences that engage viewers on a visceral level. Her use of tempura-fried flowers adds a touch of the unexpected, as these delicate, once-edible creations are transformed into art objects that speak to themes of fragility, transformation, and the passage of time.
One of the remarkable aspects of Yi's practice is her exploration of the olfactory realm. In her work "Walking on Two Paths at Once (2023)," she collaborated with the renowned perfumer Barnabé Fillion, the founder of the Arpa fragrance brand. Together, they crafted a scent that defies easy categorization. It blends a complex array of notes - marine, animalic, metallic, floral, and umami. The citrus notes provide a refreshing lift, while the algae notes add a sense of the primal and the natural. Bold accents like gasoline and petrichor introduce an element of the unexpected, making the fragrance a multi-faceted experience that conjures up vast, otherworldly landscapes. This work is a testament to Yi's ability to use scent not just as a pleasant aroma but as a means of evoking deep emotions, memories, and ideas.
Yi's foray into scent work is part of a larger body of work that challenges the traditional boundaries of art. In her earlier works, she used scent to draw viewers in, taking advantage of the fact that smells can often be perceived on a subconscious level before we are fully aware of them. Her attraction to scent also stems from its ability to evoke the absent. A particular smell can powerfully bring to mind people, places, or things that are no longer present, and Yi harnesses this power to create works that are both deeply personal and universally relatable.
In addition to her scent work, Yi has also explored other mediums and concepts. Her use of transparent, protective materials in pieces like "Mr. Taxi for GG" is an early example of her interest in themes of absence and presence. By using a plastic raincoat and a moldering tempura-fried bouquet in place of a head, she alludes to death and mourning, while also challenging the idea of art as a fixed, unchanging object. In allowing natural environmental and bacterial forces to reshape the work during its display, she embraces the idea of art as a living, evolving entity, pointing towards a posthuman condition where the boundaries between human, nature, and technology are blurred.
Anicka Yi's contributions to the world of art and scent are significant. She has opened up new ways of thinking about how we experience art, inviting us to engage not just with our eyes but with all our senses. Her work challenges us to consider the complex relationships between humans, nature, and technology, and to think about the future of art in a world where these boundaries are constantly shifting.
