When we think of the smell of Sydney in summer, perhaps it's sea breezes, sunscreen, gum trees, hot chips; this exhibition, however, will seek to create an olfactory portrait of the city's landscape, politics and social vibe.
Sydney artist Cat Jones has devised this project based on her award-winning 2015 olfactory installation Century's Breath. As with that work, Jones created her ten signature scents of Sydney by talking to its inhabitants,with each interviewee getting a scent of their own.
To achieve a diversity of voices, Jones devised a line-up that includes scientist and Aboriginal elder Auntie Frances Bodkin, veteran documentarian Pat Fiske, and young Walkley-nominated journalist Patrick Abboud (The Feed, SBS).
Each of the ten 'scents of Sydney' fall within one of five key themes (or 'base notes') identified by Jones: Competition, Democracy, Extravagance, Landscape and Resistance.
The idea of the installation is that you listen to the interviews in conjunction with sampling the smells inspired by them, taking time to reflect on the identity of the city you live in.
A series of talks will be held as part of the Scent of Sydney exhibition on January 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 & 25 from 6pm-7pm.