How do we mourn what is disappearing? How do we sense what remains?
Scientific studies show that forests affect our body and emotions – mainly through the terpenes / olfactory signatures trees release.
In the multisensory performance Nature after Nature: DRAWING TREES WITH SCENT, the artist-research duo MUELLER-DIVJAK, accompanied by Lucie Strecker and Bernhard Fleischmann, created a poetic farewell to vanishing forests. The work explored the deep link between scent, memory, and ecological loss. Instead of visual images, trees were outlined and evoked through scent molecules – ephemeral future memories.
The performance filled the space with carefully composed fragrances of tree species threatened by climate change, deforestation, and habitat destruction.
At the heart of the performance was a mourning procession. Jeanette Mueller and Lucie Strecker appeared as the “Widows of the Forest,” moving slowly through the space in black robes, spreading the smell of endangered trees.
Whilst we make every effort to preserve habitats, there must also be room for grief over their potential loss. This profound emotion can also strengthen collective efforts and enable us to recognise constant change – both within ourselves and in the world around us – perhaps even making it truly comprehensible.
Presented during Long Night of Research 2024 / Lange Nacht der Forschung 2024, the performance drew a diverse audience. Visitors followed their noses, reflected on their connection to nature and in a sense, engaged bodily with environmental awareness.
May 2024 – Long Night of Research / Lange Nacht der Forschung, Angewandte Interdisciplinary Lab – University of Applied Arts Vienna
Olfactory Performance by MUELLER-DIVJAK with Lucie Strecker and Bernhard Fleischmann (Sound credits: b.fleischmann)
