Journey of
SOUND X OLFACTION
A nostalgia-evoking participatory installation unveiling the
Cross-Modal Integration of Sounds and Smells
A Simpler Place is a participatory installation that explores the integration of Sound and Olfaction and engages participants by evoking personal memories of their past. The project was launched on 11th December, 2023 at St. John on Bethnal Green Church, London as a part of a group exhibit (Sonic Alchemy) by Royal College of Art.
​
In the exhibition, as the name suggests, each participant was able to experience a simpler time away from the hustle-bustle of life with scents throughout the duration of the soundscape.
I used illustration as a medium to visualize the transitions of the soundscape and the narrative I want to convey.
Thinking in sound
​
Coming from a visual background it wasn't easy to understand the physicality of sound to use it as a medium to express a narrative.
​
The major challenge was to think of sound as not music but as a material.
The form
​
The form of the installation was designed to make it more intuitive using a form that asks the audience to hear and smell at the same time as it takes inspiration from a vintage gramophone and a flower. To minimize any visual cues I used natural material to blend in with the physical space which also delivers a sweet scent from leaves that acts as a base and helps the audience concentrate on the sensory experience.
The soundscape
​
The soundscape follows a transition from a simpler world where sounds were created by accidental interaction of objects and natural phenomena to the introduction of music where humans started creating pleasant sounds for entertainment purposes that later evolved into more technical sounds making sound a material being used for various practical purposes.
A few studies reveal the brain's link between sounds, smells and memory and suggest that they can all evoke emotionally charged memories, because the same part of the brain that's in charge of processing our senses is also responsible, for storing emotional memories. Based on the research this installation aims to explore the cross-modal integration of auditory and olfactory stimuli, allowing a single sound piece to evoke distinct memories when paired with different smell compositions.
This suggests sensory information and a particular sound when coupled with emotional information
like a memory of fear gets stored in the auditory cortex as a bundle. This allows the sound to
acquire an emotional meaning.
Memories from our dreams
Memories from our childhood
The smellscapes
The installation diffuses two different fragrance compositions from each side providing different experiences when paired with the same sound.
The first smellscape is composed of warm oriental scents from the kitchen conveying a comforting experience and often triggering memories from our dreams. It can be described as a winter night at home.
The second smellscape has more energy and is composed of fresh tropical scents that can be described as a summer walk in the garden. It is composed of fruity fragrances and herbs that often trigger memories from our childhood.
Through this installation, participants engaged in a multisensory journey, delving into their personal memories woven by the fusion of sound and smell allowing the soundscape to acquire a
personal emotional meaning.
Exploring sound as a medium and experimenting with the physical and technical aspects of it opened up a new space in my thought pocess. I enjoyed listening to the whispers as well as the wild waves and how they interact and compliment each other.
:)