©Jeanette Müller
For this project at the intersection of applied sociopolitical utopia and conceptual art I developed an all natural scent diffused in a huge tent, placed in front of the Hilton, Muscat.
The aim was to create an overall feel good-atmosphere, which effects calmness, strength and clarity and helps the international participants to get into a grounded and confident mood before heading to their presentations, conference panels and discussions.
“Diffusing Molecules #3″, preparation work
Scent design for the traditional Christmas Market at Schloß Schönbrunn, Vienna – Winter 2013. [Client: MTS Marketing Tourismus Synergie Wien GmbH]
In cooperation with Elke Kies from MagicBox we composed subtile resinous fir tree notes and exclusive orange and herbal blends. And provided the client with three custom-built scent beaming units in order to create extraordinary olfactory experiences for the visitors of the market.
Imagine: a romantic winter night, a slight breeze, and a smelly smell. All organic. – Just a senusal surplus. No manipulation intended.
PS 8 / Strawberry Fields Forever
PS 8 / Milan Mladenovic - Strawberry Fields Forever / Paul Divjak
Der Pratersauna Art Space präsentiert sich, wie der Künstler Milan Mladenovic ihn gestaltet hat; in wochenlanger Arbeit wurden alle Wände, die Decke und das Interieur kleinteilig mit bunten Stickern verklebt. Psychedelische Muster, wohin das Auge blickt. Paul Divjak hat auf Einladung der Wiener Achse die Intervention von Mladenovic aufgegriffen und die Ästhetik der veränderten Raumerfahrung auf olfaktorischer Ebene weitergedacht. Der Ort scheint gänzlich unverändert, wäre da nicht eine überraschende zusätzliche Stimulanz. Statt der typischen von Alkohol, Rauch und Schweiß getränkten Luft eines Clubs prägt das poppige Aroma fruchtiger Erdbeeren die Atmosphäre. – Bevor die Partynacht überhaupt angefangen hat, fährt der beglückende synthetische Trip auch schon ein. Ohne Drogen, völlig losgelöst; Eskapismus im Erdbeerland.
Eröffnung: 4.10.2014 | 5.10.-14.12.2014
Wiener Achse
Supported by MagicBox, Saint Charles
“Im Prater blüh´n wieder die Bäume”, MuseumQuartier
IM PRATER BLÜH´N WIEDER DIE BÄUME, Smellscape / scent installation, 2016
(In Prater the trees are blossoming again)
A project commissioned for Wir-sind-Wien-Festival
Public Space, Vienna – in cooperation with: Kunst Haus Wien / Museum Hundertwasser, Historical Museum of Vienna, Museums Quarter Vienna, The Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art.
With „In Prater the trees are blossoming again “ Paul Divjak is focusing on the diversity of urban smell and the manipulation of our olfactory surroundings. Setting up temporary smellscapes (olfactory interventions) the artist is transferring odours of famous Vienna Prater (the Emperor´s former hunting grounds) into the very city center, and in front of several museums. The aroma of musty earth, woods, lime blossoms and lilac is to be experienced at urban locations, which usually are defined by the lack of any green.The audience is such invited into the realm of the sense of smell and to reflect everyday perceptions.
— mehr —
Setup: “Change Was Our Only Chance” by Time´s Up
For this project by the artists´collective Time´s Up Paul Divjak was invited to develop an olfactory scenographic approach and create an experimental, dystopian scentscape. The result was an irritating bouquet of a futuristic harbor breeze, defined by muddy waters, wet wooden notes, and sweet rotten Asian flowers. A subtile but smelly trip to the year 2047. [Phase 1 of an experiment / collaborative work in progress]
In these times of fundamental change, this mix of installation and process wants to make you “want for the future”. The future perspective into the present makes it clear that the future for us (humans) will only be experienced if we introduce changes today.
An possible future is sensually experienced through a physical narrative, a form of immersive environment, explored in the enveloping spatial arrangement, in the here and now, in a curious and playful process.
Possible futures fuel passion to boldly explore and popularize the complexity of our time. Possible futures are demystified and stripped of anxiety. Uncertain future scenarios are no longer terrifying, because in that future we see that people in the past had understood: “Change our our only chance.”
We look forward to working with the lecturers, researchers and students of the University of Applied Arts Vienna and the Applied Innovation Laboratory AIL in this project of exhibition and discussion, workshop and exploration.
