Description
World Sensorium: OCEAN, 2023
Composition of marine and terrestrial plant essential oils from around the globe.
160 x 50ml Black Glass Bottle Mister
By Gayil Nalls
Dr. Gayil Nalls introduces her artwork in the domain of olfactory sensory exploration, World Sensorium: Ocean, offering an immersive journey beyond sight and sound into the world of smell, capturing the vastness of the ocean’s essence. This creation, part of her renowned World Sensorium project—endorsed by UNESCO and the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities—serves as a tribute to the ocean’s mysterious depths, the birthplace of life. World Sensorium: Ocean invites audiences to engage with an experience that embodies the complex chemistry of the sea, urging a reevaluation of our connection to the ocean.
The seemingly straightforward scent of the sea is, in fact, a rich amalgam of salts, minerals, and organic molecules that signal and drive myriad biological processes. In the ocean, not just sodium chloride but also magnesium, calcium, and potassium, are crucial for the equilibrium of marine ecosystems. Carbon dioxide also plays a pivotal role, in influencing pH levels and the structural integrity of marine life. The pungent sulphury smell comes from Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) compounds which are created from the metabolism of marine phytoplankton and bacteria.
However, the ocean’s aroma is not solely generated underwater; land-based vegetation, including aromatic plants and soils, significantly contributes to this olfactory landscape. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from terrestrial plants merge with marine aerosols, while the earthy fragrance of geosmin, produced by soil bacteria, adds to this complex scent profile.
Dr. Nalls has drawn on various aspects of oceanic chemistry to create World Sensorium: Ocean, from the distinct smells of different marine environments to the global influence of terrestrial flora. This intricate interaction between land and sea, involving biochemical processes and atmospheric dynamics, enriches the ocean’s scent. Terrestrial contributions come from the direct runoff into the ocean and the atmospheric transportation of VOCs, which, upon reacting chemically, form aerosols that bring the scent of the earth to the sea.
The experience of World Sensorium: Ocean draws attention to the delicate balance of life sustained by the ocean’s chemical symphony, reminding us of the deep connections we share with this vital ecosystem. Dr. Nalls’ composition, combining marine and terrestrial plant essences, encourages us to explore these connections through the sense of smell, linking it to the brain’s emotional and behavioral centers and enriching our sensory experience of the ocean.
