TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary

Sissel Tolaas

Sissel Tolaas (b. 1961, Stavanger, Norway) is a pioneering artist and researcher renowned for her groundbreaking work in the realm of olfactory perception. With a multidisciplinary background encompassing chemistry, linguistics, mathematics, and visual arts, Tolaas has dedicated her career to exploring the profound impact of scent on human experience.

Since 1990, Tolaas has been at the forefront of scent research, establishing one of the world's most extensive private smell archives, comprising over 15,000 samples collected globally. In 2004, she founded the Smell RE_searchLab in Berlin, supported by International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), to facilitate interdisciplinary projects that delve into the communication and cultural significance of odors.

Tolaas's innovative approach transcends traditional boundaries, integrating scent into art, science, and design. Her projects, such as the 'City SmellScape' series, have involved capturing and analyzing the unique odors of various cities, including Paris, Berlin, and Amman, to understand their cultural and environmental narratives.

In addition to her artistic endeavors, Tolaas has collaborated with institutions like MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, as well as with fashion brands such as Balenciaga, to create immersive olfactory experiences that challenge perceptions and evoke deep emotional responses.

For more information on Sissel Tolaas's work and exhibitions, you can visit her official website: https://www.sisseltolaas.com

Related program

Fishing for Islands

Océans Une vision du monde au rythme des vagues

Sissel Tolaas
Smell 3_4 2020, 2020

Sissel Tolaas
Ocean SmellScapes, 2017
03.2017 : 10.5438700 / 84.4537700 / 10.5 / 84.5

Symposium: Return to the Sea

The Current II: The Ocean is on Air Convening led by Chus Martínez & Julieta Aranda

The Ecologies of Peace

Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary: The Commissions Book
Sternberg Press, 2020

Tidalectics