Exhalations

Not only does Sandra Barré unlock an invisible element within art history through compelling examples, but she also demonstrates that we can only practice olfactory art history when we no longer view scents through a visual lens and start practicing an olfactory gaze instead.

Dr. Caro Lisette Verbeek
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands;
Embedded researcher in olfactory heritage (VU, Rijksmuseum, International Flavours & Fragrances);
Curator at Kunstmuseum, The Hague, Netherlands


This book provides a much-needed overview of the history of olfactory art, filling a significant gap in the field. It deepens Ashraf Osman's 2013 "Olfactory Art" article, and references many olfactory art projects that have remained in the shadows of mainstream art history. By organizing these works into an interesting set of rubriques, Sandra Barré renders this olfactory art "catalog" (if you will) manageable.

Gwenn-Aël Lynn
Independent transdisciplinary artist


Barré has written an important book: A celebration of olfaction in art, and a foundational text for any further efforts at understanding the medium. Her thorough research repeatedly demonstrates how scent has served as a vital and impactful tool for artists, with thoughtful examples of historical and contemporary work. With "Exhalations", Barré has provided an eloquent defense of a vital creative practice, and has helped cement the importance of smell as a valid mode of art-making.

Saskia Wilson-Brown
Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Art and Olfaction, Los Angeles


At a time when artistic interventions involving smells are becoming increasingly prevalent, this book provides a timely overview of the diverse avenues and possibilities that olfactory artists have explored since the 1990s. It not only emphasises the diversity of works and artistic approaches that explore the potential of smells, but also the range of issues and challenges that odours raise in art. Offering valuable insights, it promises to be a valuable resource for anyone interested in one of the most exciting emerging fields in contemporary art.

Dr. Erika Wicky
Université Grenoble Alpes, France