Diary of Smells

Book of Smells is the result of my involvement with a community of descendents of runway slaves. After visiting, eating, smelling and spending time with them, I realized that the knowledge of medicinal herbs used by their ancestors and healers was disappearing with the younger generations. The installation Book of Smells consists of an archival changing book/object where medicinal plants were squeezed between its pages. A series of 18 inkjet photographs documented the changes occurred in the herbs during the 3 months residence. Most of the herbs dried but some grew again as a result of the humidity of the area. The book-object, placed inside a cabinet file drawer emanated a combination of changing in time herbal smells. Part of the concept of Book of Smells is to build an herbal garden open for town use in the residence space.

Book of Smells, 2011. Installation: object bookart & 18 photographs ink jet printed on Hahnemhule paper

Book of Smells, 2011. Book art object