Scents & Art

The beginnings of Western theatre in ancient Greek festivals like the Eleusinian mysteries (in modern times considered the prototype of the modern Gesamtkunstwerk) were suffused with intense aromas of all kinds: including fruit, floral, grain, and animal offerings; blood and burning animal flesh; wine, honey, and oil libations; and the burning of incense and other material in sacred fires (Burkert 1985). In our times, the use of incense in Catholic churches constitutes a diminished survival of the ritual use of smell in religious performances. scented theatre programs and perfume fountains were only two of the nineteenth-century olfactory devices in Western theatres (Haill 1987), but during most of the twentieth century, the “fourth wall conventions  of realism generally divided the spectator from the mainstream stage and permitted only sight and sound to cross its divide.” Sally Banes: Olfactory performances, The senses in performance, Routledge 2007

 

How scents influence immersion into the story in theatre and how they influence our everyday life, is a special area of Barbara’s research since 1998. In sensorial performances, scents and sense of smell have one of the main roles to create an experience. Every character and every scene have its own smell. Today, Barbara’s research enters into a classical theatre, bringing scents on stage. Last conclusions of theoretical experts were, that scents on stage could not change as quickly as lights or sound to influence the atmosphere of the play. A scent, even thou is perhaps the strongest and the deepest factor to create the atmosphere, supposed to be also simply uncontrollable. Probably this is not true anymore. Scents used literally and poetically on stage and in contemporary art in general, are a very strong trend now.

To design scents for an event or artwork we have to take in consideration many technical and human factors and combine them with a purpose and goals.

SCENT DESIGN  IN THEATRE and ART

  • 2022 In search for meaning, sensorial experience, Ljubljana Slovenia
  • 2021 Interwoven twisting your mind on textile, curating Neža Peterle, Neurotian Gallery Berlin Germany
  • 2021 Fragrant secrets, Teatro stabile Sloveno Trieste, Senzorium and Academy for theater, radio, film and TV.
  • 2020 Lalabajke Novo mesto
  • 2019 Alighieri Dante, La Divina Commedia, production Senzorium
  • 2019 Nataša Skušek, The bed, exhibition, Galerija Krka, November 2019-Februar 2020
  • 2019 Jenič B.P.: Pippi’s Attics, sensorial experience for children, Pikin festival 2019
  • 2018 Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet, coproduction Senzorium, Prešernovo theatre Kranj, Slovenian Youth theatre and Teatro Stabile Sloveno Trieste Italia
  • 2018 Jose Saramago: Eiland, sensorial labyrinth, concept Lore Uyttendaele and Gabriel Hernandez, Coproduction Navigators. Stormcop & Senzorium, DeGeneraal, Antwerpen, Belgium
  • 2018 Hotel Tivoli between memories and dreams, sensorial guidance through cultural heritage, author and director Barbara Pia Jenič, MGLC  International centre of Graphic arts and Senzorium Ljubljana Slovenia
  • 2017 Brave new world,  theatre play, stage adaptation and direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Slovenian National Theatre Drama Ljubljana & Senzorium, School of Arts-University of Nova Gorica, Osum
  • 2017 Future promise park, scent design for video installation Moon Kyungwoon, 32. International graphic arts biennale, 16th june – 29th of october, MGLC International centre of Graphic arts, Ljubljana Slovenia
  • 2017 Lalabajke, sensorial experience, direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Trubar house of literature Ljubljana
  • 2016-2017 Cafe Fatal, LARP, Kavarna Union, direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Senzorium
  • 2016-2017 Sensorial language in Senzorium, lecture performance, author and director Barbara Pia Jenič (Anton Podbevšek Teater NM, Slovenian National theatre Maribor, Academy for theatre, radio, film and television, CCCB Brasilia, UNB Brasilia)
  • 2016 Lalabajke, sensorial experience, direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Trubar house of literature
  • 2015 Jenič B.P.: Merlin, direction Barbara Pia Jenič, prod. Senzorium, Ljubljana Puppet theatre
  • 2015 Lesbos, theatre play, direction Jaša Koceli, Bit kulturnica – Puppet theatre
  • 2015 The tenth dauther, Opera play, direction Rocc, Slovenian national opera and ballet, photos
  • 2014 Jenič B.P.: Scents of Emona, sensorial performance, direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Senzorium, The Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana
  • 2014 Zajc Dane: Gothic Windows, direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Senzorium&  MGL & AGRFT
  • 2014 Jenič B.P., Penko P.: Sensorial soundscapes, MGLC instalation of sounds scents and graphics
  • 2014 Kresnik, event for the premiere of a featured movie, Kino Šiška
  • 2013 Prešeren France: Waterman, sensorial performance, direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Senzorium & Ljubljana castle & SNG Opera in Balet Ljubljana
  • 2013 Jenič B.P.: The Little factory of hope, sensorial performance, direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Senzorium & MGLC International centre of Graphic arts Ljubljana
  • 2013 Jenič B.P.: Le petit Fabrique de Esperanza,  interactive performance onstage, direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Senzorium, French institute &Théâtre À L’envers F
  • 2012 Project of Generosity: performance Between us, sensorial performance, artistic leader Enrique Vargas, direction: Barbara Pia Jenič, Benoit Gasnier, Jean Marie Oriot, Inge van Gestel, Sarah John, Julie Seiller. Production: Senzorium SI, Theatre L’envers FR, De Varande BE; Carte Blanche DK. Europe tour 40 days: Turnhout Belgium, Rennes & Ouray France, Viborg Denmark. Flemish capital of culture Turnhout & European capital of culture Maribor 2012 Slovenia.
  • 2011 Project of Generosity: Lalabajke,  sensorial experience, concept and direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Senzorium Trubar house of literature, Botanical garden, MKOŽ
  • 2010 Jenič B.P.: Baptism (inspired by D. Smole, F. Prešeren), theatre performance, concept and direction Barbara Pia Jenič, prod. Senzorium in Festival Ljubljana and Ljubljana’s Castle
  • 2010 Jenič B.P.: We are the world, street performance, direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Tourism LJubljana
  • 2008 – 2009 Jenič B.P.: In Vino Veritas, sensorial performance, direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Senzorium, Slovenian Ethnographic museum & Festival Ex Ponto, Festival Kluže
  • 2008 The city of sighs, concept and direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Senzorium
  • 2007 Ivan Bizjak: Casts, Casts Kitten the Magician Casts the Spell, concept and direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Senzorium
  • 2006 Jenič B.P.: Unveilings, concept and direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Ljubljana’s Castle, Senzorium & Festival Ljubljana
  • 2006 DiversitArts, Ispeci mi kavu, Barcelona, Spain
  • 2005 Midnight Margarita (inspired by Bulgakov: Mojster in Margareta), concept and direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Senzorium ,Festival Carniola Kranj, Festival Teden mladih Kranj
  • 2005 Alice in the mirror, concept & direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Brdo pri Kranju,  Mobitel
  • 2005 Unvisible city, assistant director, direction:G. Hernandez
  • 2004 B.P.Jenič: To be or to have (inspired by Erich Fromm), concept and direction Barbara Pia Jenič, Senzorium
  • 2004 La memoria del vino, Teatro de los sentidos, Barcelona, Festival FORUM DE LAS CULTURAS
  • 2003 Hilo de Ariadna, direction Enrique Vargas, CCCB, Festival Grec Barcelona Spanija
  • 2003 City of silence (inspired by A journey of a soul, Michael D. Newton Sc.), concept and direction Barbara Pia Jenič
  • 2003 A journey of a hero Rudolf, assistant director, direction: G. Hernandez, Novo Mesto
  • 2002 Sensorial box, Izola, assistant director, direction  G. Hernandez
  • 2002 A walker of the sins, assistant director, direction G. Hernandez
  • 2002 Oraculos, direction E. Vargas,Teatro Mercat de les flors, Barcelona Spain
  • 2002 Oraculos, Toolwood festival Munich
  • 2001 Oraculos, direction E. Vargas, Teatro de los sentidos, Holland festival Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • 2001 Oraculos, direction E. Vargas, Emilia Romagna Teatro in Commune di Napoli, Italy
  • 2001 Le Combat de Carnaval et de Carême, assistant director, direction G. Hernandez, KUD Trzin
  • 2000 Travelling labyrinth 2000, assistant director, direction G. Hernandez
  • 2000 La memoria del vino, direction E. Vargas, Emilia Romagna Teatro, Teatro de los sentidos, Bologna
  • 2000 Oraculos, direction E. Vargas, Emilia Romagna Teatro, Festival Novecento, Palermo Sicily
  • 1999 La storia delle storie, direction Gabriel E. Hernandez L., Teatro Novelli, Rimini, Italy
  • 1999 Oracles, direction E. Vargas, Emiglia Romagna Teatro, Comune di Rimini, Italy
  • 1999 Crosswords, SEM, assistant director, direction G. Hernandez
  • 1999 L memoria del vino, direction E. Vargas, Emiglia Romagna Teatro, Modena Italy
  • 1998 Parcival and the knights of the round table, asistant director, direction G. Hernancez, Idriart Festival Grad Borl pri Ptuju in Ljubljanski grad
  • 1998 Oracles, direction E. Vargas, Zuercher Theater Spektakel, Zurich, Switzerland
  • 1997 House in the air, assistant director, direction G. Hernandez, ŠOU