14 March - Sensible Research
Sissel Tolaas & Caro Verbeek
Although we breathe in about 27,000 times each day it is difficult for us to recognise and describe scents. This White Lady Lecture will challenge our sense of smell.
The Norwegian artist Sissel Tolaas is a world-renowned scent expert who develops conceptual fragrance studies for museums and for megabrands like Coty. Tolaas developed a lexicon of newly invented smell terms called NASALO, aided in part by the library of nearly 7,000 scent specimens. The collection includes everything from 150 variations on dog shit to the lone aroma. Tolaas tries to capture the smell of a city, an event or to subvert people’s expectations of smell. In one example, Tolaas dresses in a feminine and provocative manner, but covers herself with the smell of mens sweat. She discovers that most men will not pay any attention to her and that it’s not always the eyes that guide our behaviour.
This lecture is introduced by the Dutch Art critic (Rijksmuseum) and scent expert Caro Verbeek who uses scent and tactility to create multi-sensory experiences and events. She believes that engaging the senses is crucial in the perception of art and design. Verbeek will give an historical overview of the use of smell in art from the beginning of the 20th century till present-day and address the cultural taboo on body scents; a perfect introduction to scent-artist Sissel Tolaas!
The lecture ends with scent workshops by Verbeek, Tolaas and a scent questionnaire by Liesbeth Fith & Danielle Arets
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The White Lady programme focuses on the cultural, social and economical context of design with monthly lectures, debates and talks. The programme presents acknowledged design thinkers and makers from in and outside the design discipline. The aim is to explore how design is related to societal developments and vice versa.
The programme is compulsory for bachelor students and open to the public (students have to attend at least 8 lectures).
The public can register for individual parts of the programme at: rsvp@designhuis.nl
Press or questions concerning content contact: Danielle.Arets@designacademy.nl
Location: Designhuis, Stadhuisplein 3, Eindhoven
Time: All lectures start at 15.30 pm till 17.00 pm
Admission: Free; please register at rsvp@designhuis.nl
Language: English