ERIC FONG

Thanatos is a multisensory installation centring on an original perfume that evokes the scent of death. It is the result of a collaboration with a perfumer and a forensic scientist, whose research on the 400+ volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted during human decomposition underpins the work. Inspired by the observation that some of the decomposition VOCs are identical to some of the natural ingredients used in commercial perfumes, Thanatos is a blend of selected VOCs plus floral and wood scents. It takes the audience on an olfactory journey from the scentscape of an open meadow to a secluded forest where a decomposing body is discovered.

The installation comprises:

1. Thanatos exhibited in a display case

2. The scent experienced through interaction with an autopsy table

3. The Search, a suspenseful short film of a search for a cadaver in a forest

4. Photographs taken at the Crime Scene House, Forensic Anthropology Department, Teesside University

Eric Fong is a multimedia artist and a former medical doctor. His practice is driven by a keen interest in the juncture between art, science, medicine and forensics. He has exhibited internationally, including Pratt Manhattan Gallery, New York; Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art, Budapest; Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London. He was longlisted for the Aesthetica Art Prize 2021 and included in Future Now anthology. One of his works is in the Arts Council England Collection. https://ericfong.com

All images shown courtesy of the artist ©️ Eric Fong. All rights reserved.