Draw me an odour is a trans-disciplinary project dedicated to developing a deeper understanding of the links between the sense of smell, colour and gesture.
The project aims to evaluate the potential influence of an olfactory stimulation to artistic production and how these findings can then be potentially applied to creative workshops/ applications to engage fine motor skills for people with Dementia. The central question is the possibility of enhancing cognitive performance with the use of non-pharmaceutical protocol. Olfactory stimulations could be applied to promote better performance, concentration, recall, autonomy and flexibility in daily tasks.
Stage 1
Draw me an Odour has finished its first stage, having developed a digital tool that allows us to explore how cognitive tasks are influenced by odour.
The first stage is titled ‘Colour me an Odour’ as it explores odour/colour association with participants being asked to identify a colour that corresponds to the odour they are smelling, while also filling in a questionnaire that explores hedonicity, familiarity, intensity, relaxing effects, the context (urban, nature, inside, outside) and memory (positive/negative recollection, past or recent).
Dr Jérémie Topin of ChEmoSim lab, Institut de Chimie de Nice and Massey University, Wellington have now finished their sample and the Pacific Community Study in Wellington is well underway. Testing of paryicipants in South Korea at DGIST (Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology) in Daegu at the laboratory of Professor Cheil Moon and at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú in Peru has been Covid delayed.
However, the sample size already undertaken, the results are looking promising, measuring the difference among the populations and the cultural impact. The question is to know if there exists a common invariant between different cultures.
Draw Me An Odour has been developed by
Massey University and The Institut of Chimie de Nice (ICN) (chemistry) Université Côte D’Azur, Nice
The International Perfume Museum of Grasse, France
Exhibition for Stage 1 and Stage 2
Draw me an Odour has now been joined by The International Perfume Museum of Grasse, France. The museum is considered to be unique in the world due to its scope and diversity of its collections based on the theme of perfume. Creating prestigious exhibitions in collaboration with all major international perfume houses and European cultural institutions.
Draw me an Odour has collaborated with the museum to create a public art installation that explores the correlation between odour and colour.
Shaping an environment through new olfactory molecules technology and by utilising data collected from the 100,000 + annual visitors to The International Perfume Museum.
The Draw me an Odour science and art research nexus aligns perfectly with the museum’s objectives and the exhibition has opened in May 2022.
The exhibition provides the opportunity for Draw me an Odour to collect new data for Stage 2. Utilising a large interactive digital screen in real time to assess how smell can affect the forms that people draw.
Draw Me An Odour Team
JÉRÉMIE TOPIN
I am revealing biomolecular mechanisms at spatial and temporal scales that remain difficult to observe experimentally, using numerical approaches. My research project is focused on the prediction of the odor, and/or the emotion induce by a molecule using its chemical structure as input. The long-term objective is to learn a computer how to smell.
As theoretical chemist, I am applying various methods of molecular modeling and chemoinformatic to investigate at the atomic scale the interactions between ligands and receptors. These researches are always conducted in the perspective of linking in sillico observations to in vitro or in vivo results.
As a physiologist, I am measuring human physiological variations induced by olfactory stimulations. These experiments are made to identify mood modulator.
OMAR CASTRO
Omar Castro is a visual artist and teacher at the Faculty of Art and Design (FAD) of the PUCP (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú), in Peru. He is interested in the ways in which drawing and artistic research can engage with other fields of knowledge. His artistic practice investigates understandings, representations and relationships with notions such as territory and nature through different media.
He coordinates with a group of students and teachers from the FAD the development of the 'Draw me an odor' tests in Lima under the current circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic.
CAMERON MAY
Cameron May is an artist and programmer. In his art practice, Cameron uses machines, electronics and simulations to create artworks that are indeterminate and unstable. Cameron completed his MFA at Massey University in 2018, and has exhibited across New Zealand and Australia. For the MedArt project, Cameron is applying his coding experience to create a series of unique digital drawing applications.
CATHARINA NEVES SCHULTZ
Catharina is our graphic designer. She advices and helps create MeDArT’s physical and digital compositions, layouts and visual concepts.
Catharina has been with us for 4 years and graduated 2 years ago with her Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Communication Design at Massey University.
She is currently working as a Graphic Designer for a Calendar and Promotional Products Company, designing products and advertisements for other companies as well as doing inhouse visual work.
JAMES WILCE
JAMES WILCE
James Wilce is a technologist with a BSc in Computer Science. James joined the MeDArT team in 2023 and utilises his extensive skillset gained from working with large enterprise clients to support the MeDArT project. His main focus is the ongoing maintenance and development of MeDArT digital applications and toolsets.
EMILY BOSWELL
Emily is our Digital Animator. She works with motion graphics, illustration, and videos. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Visual Communication Design from Massey and currently works as a freelance illustrator.
BRI SIMPSON
Bri Simpson is our New Zealand/Aotearoa ‘Draw Me an Odour’ Research Assistant. Currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (hons) at Massey University, she engages with drawing as expanded practice, researching political community engagement and visual arts pedagogy.