Art isn’t just something you see—it’s something you can feel, smell, and immerse yourself in. That’s the premise behind this new triptych project, an installation inspired by the three scents of my handcrafted incense: No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3.
This isn’t your traditional painting. Each piece in the triptych is a synesthetic exploration of scent, where color, texture, and form attempt to visually translate what it feels like to experience the fragrance. The installation brings together painting, sculpture, and scent into one cohesive, multi-medium expression.
The Concept
It all started with a page in my notebook—a rough sketch of three hand-blown glass vessels, each designed to hold one scent. These vessels will sit in front of large-scale panels, each a synesthetic representation of the scent it holds. The idea was to merge the physicality of scent with the visual language of color and texture, allowing the viewer to experience the fragrance in an entirely new way.
“Art, like scent, should linger—long after the moment is gone.”
The Process
The first panel, inspired by No. 1 (Rose and Clove), is a 14-inch by 50-inch painting that explores a gradient from super matte to high gloss. This gradation is my visual representation of how I smell No. 1—a transition from the deep, grounding notes of clove to the luminous, almost ethereal quality of rose.
For this piece, I experimented with a new technique: stretching the canvas in a way that creates folds or “pleats,” giving the surface a dynamic, almost sliding appearance. The creases feel alive, as though the painting is shifting, echoing the way scent moves and evolves as you experience it. This technique has opened up a new realm of experimentation in my work, and I’m thrilled to see where it takes me in future projects.
A Project in Progress
This installation is still in its early stages, but sharing its progress with you is part of the journey. The completion date? TBD. But this is where the excitement lies—in the process, the experimentation, and the possibilities of what this project will become.
Each panel will be unique, reflecting the distinct personality of its corresponding scent. The hand-blown glass vessels will act as sculptural extensions of the painting, adding yet another layer of interaction and meaning.
Where Art and Scent Meet
This project is as much about breaking boundaries as it is about storytelling. It’s an exploration of how scent—a fleeting, often invisible experience—can be grounded in visual and tactile form.
I can’t wait to share more of this journey with you as it evolves. What do you imagine when you think of the scent of rose and clove, or geranium and slate, or tomato leaf and frankincense? Soon, you won’t just imagine—you’ll see it.
Stay tuned for updates, progress shots, and the reveal of the final installation.