Projects

This exhibition consisted of numerous “abstract” chemical scent formulations that were based on the structural similarities of their component molecules. It also included several reformulations of artificial flavor ingredients, a new scent molecule in development, and a fragrance that smells like old coins.

For this exhibition, the background scent of the gallery was analyzed using a gas chromatography air sampling technique. The results of the analysis––the concentrated background scent of the gallery––was formulated into a liquid mixture. This mixture was then microencapsulated into a “scratch and sniff” surface coating that was sprayed on the walls, floors and furniture of the gallery. Raspet also produced a reconstructed crude oil based on a chemical analysis of the substance, a synthetic atmosphere, and a cleaning product that uses the scent of the gallery space as it was captured by an air filter throughout the course of the exhibition.

Raspet created a scented cleaning product, a chemically reversed mirror-image version of Coca-Cola™, a series of flavors that are each the result of averaging the chemical compositions of two fruits together, and a time-based ambient scent program produced by the chemical analysis and vaporization into the gallery space of various artificial flavors using programmable scientific ovens.

For Anicka Yi’s exhibition at The Kitchen, Air Variable worked with Yi to analyze the background scent of Gagosian gallery and the scent of several human microbiome swabs cultured in petri dishes. The two scents were reconstructed for the artist in liquid form based on these analyses.