The Philosophy of Smell:
A Basic Approach to Olfactive Creation Based on the Kōdō Model
Project Director:
Objectives:
This undertaking is based on a philosophical approach and brings into play both an anthropology of smell and an aesthetic of fragrances. It involves examining the model provided by kōdō in order to understand its specificity and to sketch out the artistic canons that may help inspire Western art, which doesn't attach sufficient importance to the nose.
The objective is two-fold:
1) To analyze the Japanese art of fragrances explain its specificity. This approach entails highlighting the socio-cultural conditions in which this unparalleled art made its appearance. We will take into account the historic, social, and political causes as well as the ethical and religious motives that underlie this aesthetic of the invisible and ephemeral that combines magnificence and impermanence. In particular, we will strive to disentangle the role of Zen Buddhism in its emergence, measure the importance of the archipelago's geographic and political isolation up to the 19th century, determine why burning incense (neriko) has been more popular than liquid perfumes, etc. It will also be necessary to distinguish the various movements of this art, which has become more accessible after long being a privilege of the elite, and has had very diverse forms of expression through the centuries.
2) To examine to what extent this art of fragrance constitutes a model to envisage a contemporary olfactive aesthetic. We will have to take into account cultural diversity, assess the permeability of borders, and measure the extent to which kōdō has taken root in Japanese civilization in order to determine if aesthetic exchange and influence are possible and can help stimulate Western contemporary art. From this perspective, the existence of Japanese “defectors” like Hiroshi Koyama, a sculptor born in Kyoto who currently lives in Sweden, will be of particular interest. Influenced by the art of fragrance of his native country, Hiroshi Koyama uses incense as a component of his art and thus creates olfactive sculptures.