The Age of Aromas by Abbie Phillips from Massey University
The Age of Aromas is a response to the challenges we face balancing the relationship between nature and mankind within the dense urban environment of the city.
- Abbie Phillips | Massey University
- Image 2 Abbie Phillips
- Image 3 Abbie Phillips
The work takes the form of a film and publication that look towards the senses, in particular The Olfactory (sense of smell), as one of the most powerful ways we can connect to nature and experience its benefits. Set in the 22nd century, the film presents The Ghost Gardens Collection; a series of 5 redesigned familiar, cultural artifacts representative of our spatial environment that are infused with botanical scent from a range of plants known for their extreme aromatic qualities. The 5 “Scent Artifacts” are performed by an actor, mimicking a somewhat museum curator, her actions are delicate suggesting the importance the future of the 22nd Century has given botanical scent within our future urban environments.
As our quest rises for sustainable cities that allow connection to nature come as a must, within the design and future thinking realms of thought towards our future; we aim to target innovative and unusual philosophies to differ our worlds from the bleak of today to the existence of tomorrow. The Age of Aromas ponders these thoughts, aiming at intangible obstacles, object methodologies and romanticized imaginings to converse the needs and wants for novel challenges to the current ‘Green Movement’ within our world’s largest cities.
The work projects a conceptual vision of a future in which other are inspired to look beyond natures commercialisation in the city as a visual product. The idea of botanical scent as opposed to visual flora romanticizes nature in a way that gives value to imagination, memory, wellbeing and celebrates the importance of the future of the natural world within our urban environment.