Sissel Tolaas
Smell molecules are the air's alphabet
23—10—2024
7.30pm
Auditori Disseny Hub Barcelona
Crossroad C/ Irena Sendler with C/ Àvila
Sissel Tolaas is a Smell RE_searcher and artist, born in Norway, based in Berlin, Germany.
Tolaas has been intensively researching, experimenting with, and working on the topic of smell since 1990. A pioneer in the field, she is renowned for her innovative and unique approach to advancing the science and understanding of olfaction. Drawing on her expertise in forensic chemistry, chemical communication, sensory ecology, linguistics, and visual art, she has developed a broad range of groundbreaking interdisciplinary projects involving smell, implemented worldwide.
In January 2004, Tolaas founded the professional smell chemistry lab: SMELL RE_searchLab in Berlin – supported by the industry and various universities.
Her expertise includes advanced smell recognition, analysis, and reproduction, as well as the coding and functional understanding of smell molecules. She has created novel methods for coding abstract smell molecules and studying linguistic responses to both individual smells and olfactory experiences in general. Tolaas has explored the science and art of smell in diverse contexts, applying her knowledge to a variety of purposes and formats.
Her research and projects have won recognition through numerous national and international scholarships, honours, and prizes. She is very capable at collaborating intensively with those of other disciplines across the globe.
Tolaas has shown her projects in many museums and institutions including Museum of Modern Art, MOMA, New York; National Gallery of Victoria NGV, Melbourne; DIA Art Foundation, New York; CCA Singapore, Tate Modern London; Shanghai Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai; MORI Museum, Tokyo. She has worked with universities such as MIT, Nanyang Technical, Tsinghua, Stanford, Harvard, and Oxford. She has built up several types of smell archives such as: Smell & Communication/ language; Smell & Coding, Smell & Anthropocene; Smell & Extinction; Smell & Sensory Ecology; Functional Smell Molecules. Tolaas’ collections of smell molecules; smell complex structures and smell para data from 1990 and ongoing are including up to 20,000 smell recording samples and formulas.
She is currently working on smell-molecule legacies and preservation /conservation archives such as: Cristobal Balenciaga Legacy; the World’s Oceans and World’s Forests; smell geofacts / artefacts /archives at The Metropolitan Museum , New York; smell heritage archive for the Pompeii & UNESCO, Pompeii ; Bahrain Pearling Path & UNESCO, Bahrain; Museum of Oriental Art, Turin.
Smell molecules are the air's alphabet
How much of what we communicate is influenced by what we see? And what happens to our stories when sight is no longer an option?
How can we activate the hidden information in the air that surrounds us all? Air is a shared medium, connecting all living beings. Where there is air, there is life, and with life comes the language of smell. Air is both information and emotion in motion.
Could the details carried by smell molecules transform how we communicate? How can we engage with critical topics from an entirely new perspective through olfactory information? What if the essence of content could be revealed through smell, offering a new way of perceiving the past, present, and future?
Working with experts and scholars worldwide, I focus on developing a new approach to understanding, communicating, and displaying the chemistry of smell in diverse contexts. I capture smell molecules from various sources, analyze them, build precise databases, and create innovative ways to narrate their stories. These molecules reveal dimensions often overlooked.
The goal is to inspire a shift towards a more sensory-driven perception of the world. The transformative power of smell has shown me that change is not just possible—it is essential. Smell, deeply linked to emotion and memory, has a profound significance in human experience. Its connection to the amygdala-hippocampal complex enhances its ability to evoke emotions and memories, making it a powerful yet neglected tool for understanding life.
Life is everywhere and constant. We all breathe the same air, collectively shaping it. My work serves as a reminder of this shared reality.
Historical, sociological, and cultural influences have led us to neglect parts of our potential. Education is vital for reawakening these dormant capacities, tapping into our sensory abilities.
Smell unites us and kindles joy, which is often overlooked today. Across cultures, it enriches social rituals and gatherings, shaping human connections. In a world dominated by virtual and artificial intelligence, we must remember that our senses are our most advanced interface—intrinsically intelligent and grounding us in our humanity.
Our emotional depth distinguishes us from machines, and smell plays a central role in that. The essence of life lies in reconnecting with our olfactory senses. Training this sense provides fresh perspectives on societal challenges and brings optimism. With growing global instability, recalibrating our communication and decision-making processes is more crucial than ever.
We need a sensory reboot—an approach to interpreting sensory inputs constructively. Engaging our sense of smell activates memories and emotions, fostering learning and action. Instead of being constantly online, we should strive to be "on-life," rooted in genuine experiences. Addressing global challenges begins by reconnecting with our senses, cultivating tolerance, and rediscovering what it truly means to live.