There is an ancient chronicle in the history books that recounts the physical decline of an extremely powerful king. He did not falter from the steel on the battlefield, nor from the plagues of his time. He himself described how his bones were wasting away and how he felt intolerable stabbing pains in his back.
What is fascinating about his account is the diagnosis: the pain did not stem from superficial biological damage, but from the echoes of his conscience. After making decisions that violated his own principles—and tragically concealing them—his invisible reality began to manifest itself in his physical structure.
This raises a question inherent in the human experience: How is it possible that something we cannot see or touch can so radically alter our physical being?
The Inner Compass
Almost all of us have experienced that moment when we process a thought or a desire and, suddenly, our heart races. An inner unease stops us, even though no one around us is watching. Some argue that it's merely cultural inheritance or a simple, fortuitous combination of brain chemicals. However, if we're honest, we know that there are dimensions to our existence that transcend the purely physical plane.
In my worldview, the human being is a perfect trichotomy: body, soul, and spirit. And as an artist, I faced the challenge of bringing that invisible truth to a tangible, real, and collectible plane.
Translating the Trichotomy to the Support
In the studio, I decided that my next pieces should embody these three forces:
1. The Soul: This is the image, the visual narrative, and the composition that the eye captures upon first impression.
2. The Body: This is the physical support, the textured substrate whose technical preparation we will explore in depth in the next studio log.
3. The Spirit: This is the invisible element, the atmosphere that is unseen but alters the environment. I decided to represent it through scent. Inspired by the ritual of uncorking a fine wine—where the cork retains the essence and memory of the liquid—I began to investigate how to extract and fix scents in artistic materials. This led me to the alchemy of macerations.
Alchemy in the Studio: The Maceration Process
The technical research was not without its challenges. My initial hypothesis was to use vegetable oils (such as sunflower oil) due to their high capacity for extracting aromatic properties. However, upon analyzing their behavior on wood and gesso, the logical deduction prevailed: vegetable oils retain moisture and encourage the growth of mold over time, destroying the canvas. Furthermore, the oil repels the initial gesso, ruining the primer.
Therefore, I modified the formula and returned to a substance I had previously discarded due to its volatility: alcohol.
The definitive method I stabilized in the workshop operates under a law of controlled evaporation:
• Extraction: The organic element is introduced into pure alcohol. This extracts the aroma quickly and deeply.
• Evaporation: The alcohol is allowed to evaporate patiently for two weeks. During this process, the surface layer is constantly removed to accelerate the solvent's escape.
• Fixation: Once the alcohol has evaporated, the resulting pure essence is amalgamated in millimeter proportions with mineral oil (which is inert and free of biological risks).
• Application: This essence is strategically applied to the back of the wooden substrate, allowing the artwork to subtly and invisibly emanate its "spirit" for almost a month during its initial tests.
An invitation to experience the invisible
Contemporary art often forgets that the value of a piece lies not only in the virtuosity of its execution, but also in the rigor of the thought and research that underpins it. I wish my works to possess that mystical quality, inviting those who own them to listen to that inner compass we all carry within us.
As this is my first experiment in olfactory alchemy, I want to share it with you before the final works in the series are exhibited. I've added a section to my platform where you can request a physical sample of this impregnated substrate completely free of charge (you only need to cover the shipping cost).
https://shop.fccartwork.com/products/cd4d0b6443/6220459000000954010
Use the code [CONCIENCIA] to obtain the sample through the shared web link and be part of this research process. Let's continue questioning reality and creating upon what is firm.
As this is my first experiment in olfactory alchemy, I want to share it with you before the final works in the series are exhibited. I've added a section to my platform where you can request a physical sample of this impregnated substrate completely free of charge (you only need to cover the shipping cost).
Use the code [CONCIENCIA] to obtain the sample through the shared web link and be part of this research process. Let's continue questioning reality and creating upon what is firm.
