– THE REVIVAL OF OIKAZE –
space installation (2025)
DATE: June 7th– September 7th, 2025
CONTEXT: The Ethers
VENUE: Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, USA
CURATOR/PRODUCER: The Institute for Art and Olfaction
[Concept]
This installation is set in a scene from The Tale of Genji, a Japanese love novel written about thousand years ago. It recreates the moment in the “Fireflies” chapter when Prince Hotaru falls in love with a noble princess. From behind bamboo blinds that visually obscure the room, an elegant fragrance drifts on the breeze, captivating him. This installation allows the viewer to experience that moment from Prince Hotaru’s perspective.
Unbeknownst to him, however, the refined scent was from a handsome and fragrant man, Genji―her stepfather―who was, in fact, courting her.
The scent carried on the wind is called “oikaze”, meaning “tail wind.” Aristocrats of the time used such scents as symbolic cues in social interactions. The word still challenges us today to reflect on our sensibility.
Scents: moving inward from the outer edge
• May rain
• Wild citrus blossoms in the garden
• Herbs used in the Sweet Flag Festival to ward off evil
• Decorative medicinal balls (kusudama) of the Festival
• Room incense of the season
• The scent of Genji’s garment (the stepfather)
• The scent of the princess’ garment