Olfactory Odyssey Exhibition 2024 - Where the art of painting and fragrance blend together.

Organized by MetaScent in collaboration with Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi – the renowned 123-year-old hotel in Hanoi – Olfactory Odyssey Exhibition 2024: Scent & Memory offers a unique artistic experience. The harmonious blend of exquisite fragrance creations by perfumer Huynh Hai Yen, vibrant scent paintings by artist Nadia Vitlin, and the gentle beauty of Vietnam depicted in paintings by artist Nguyen Thanh Quang will create an inspiring and creative space.

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The Olfactory Odyssey Exhibition 2024 has three main areas: Scent & Memory.

Zone 1: Metropolis Oasis

The first section at the Olfactory Odyssey Exhibition 2024 features 15 scent paintings and 15 perfume works by perfumer and visual artist Nadia Vitlin. Nadia Vitlin is a Sydney, Australia-based artist with a background in earth and marine science. Her art combines research into nature, humanity, emotions, and sociological phenomena with a scientific perspective, exploring the olfactory world of perfumes and fragrances in art.

Constantly pushing the boundaries in the world of fragrance, she combines unique and novel ingredients that are hard to find on the market. For her, scent is not just a sensation, but a journey that leads others to new lands within their souls.

Like a gateway leading viewers away from the bustling city to small paradises in the heart of urban life, each painting is a journey of discovery through lands from Australia to Asia: the wetlands of western New South Wales, the natural lakes of Kakadu, the hillside gardens of Hong Kong Island, and many more.

With the "Metropolis Oasis" exhibition space, all senses are awakened. Each painting is not only a visual work of art but also a unique olfactory experience. The harmonious combination of colors and scents transports viewers to distant lands where they can fully enjoy the beauty of nature.

Zone 2: Journey through Scents

Zone 2 of the Olfactory Odyssey Exhibition 2024 takes visitors on an exciting journey of discovery with the "Journey through Scents" collection, inspired by the book "Journeys Through Scents." Twelve paintings and twelve perfumes recreate memorable moments throughout Perfumer Huynh Hai Yen's travels over the past decade.

A multi-talented individual, Huynh Hai Yen is known as both an author and a fragrance creator. Besides publishing books on fragrances such as "Oasis of Fragrances" in 2015, "Secrets of Fragrances" in 2016, and most recently "Journey of Fragrances" in 2024, she is also a prominent name in the Vietnamese fragrance industry with successful brands like MetaScent, NauNau, and Y25.

Huynh Hai Yen has established her position on the international stage by creating fragrances for prestigious fashion weeks such as Paris Fashion Week 2019 and Melbourne Fashion Week 2021 and 2023. Her creations have consistently been featured in Fragrances of the World magazine, one of the most reputable publications on fragrances worldwide. In 2024, she continued to shine by serving as a judge for the Asian Perfume Awards held in Hong Kong and as the head organizer of the Olfactory Odyssey Exhibition in Vietnam.

The collection is a fascinating journey of discovery. Through scents and artwork, viewers experience the unique characteristics of cities, showcasing the profound connection between scent and memory. The 12 scents include Petrichor, Jiufen Twilight, Pai To Love, Kathmandu's Alleys, Los Angeles's Club, Bangkok Noontime, Lhasa Walk, Osmanthus in Chengdu, Kyoto, Marrakesh, and Florence.

Zone 3: Scented Scenes of Vietnam

At the Scent & Art exhibition, the colorful paintings of artist Nguyen Thanh Quang, including Delta, Green Region, and Northwest, are subtly combined with the unique scents of artist Huynh Hai Yen, creating an unforgettable multi-sensory artistic experience.

Living and working in Hanoi, artist Nguyen Thanh Quang has devoted his heart and soul to recreating everyday life with a refined realistic style and classical techniques. With skillful hands and a keen eye, he meticulously depicts every tiny detail, the subtle nuances of light, and the careful application of color. His love for nature and the pure joy of a healthy life are reflected in his paintings, making his color poems gentle and peaceful.

Each artwork in the exhibition is the result of a meticulous creative process, from selecting the aromatic ingredients to the color coordination in the paintings. While in the exhibition space, viewers will feel the subtle combination of scent and art, providing the most profound and refined aesthetic experience.

Olfactory Odyssey Exhibition 2024: Scent & Memory

Exhibition dates: August 2nd – August 17th, 2024

Location: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel, 56 Ly Thai To Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Phuong Mai is a reporter for Travellive Magazine in Hanoi.

Phuong Mai