THE LIBRARY OF CYNICISM, CHELSEA Space, London, UK
The Library of Cynicism
2013
Olfactory–acoustic scenario
'The Library of Cynicism' takes the ancient Greek figure of Diogenes as a starting point
to undo assumptions of truth and belief.
Five aquaria are filled with bubbling black liquid, each holding a smell composition
made by a senior perfumer in response to the words
'virtue’, 'breath', 'empty smoke', 'illusion' and 'dog'
- all turns of phrase used by Diogenes, the philosopher who was the father of Cynicism. A gathering of small horn-bells plays a symphony of 100 cicadas,
insect singers with a profound ability to listen:
as soon as they hear a new call they silence their own voices.
Presented at:
CHELSEA Space, London, UK (2013)
Collaborator:
Smell component created with senior perfumer Ricardo Moya (IFF)