LEAKY BODIES: SMELL AND HORROR
2021-2022
“EAU DE PARFUM TMAU” is a smell composition based on the smell of the medical condition Trimethylaminuria, otherwise known as “Fish Odor Syndrome”. TMAU is caused by a genetic condition related to a mutation in the FMO3 gene. This mutation causes the body’s metabolic processes to break down trimethylamine, which is a colorless amine produced by microbes in the gut that has a fishy or rotten fish-smelling odor. This condition causes people with this mutation to have a fishy body odor. In so-called “normal” metabolic processes, trimethylamine is broken down into a molecule that does not emit an odor.
“EAU DE PARFUM TMAU” is an artistic attempt to recreate the smell of the genetic condition while critically reflecting on the ways we culturally and socially value particular genetic conditions and bodily traits. Displayed in a repurposed vintage Chanel bottle in the Chanel brand logotype, “EAU DE PARFUM TMAU” specifically sets out to critically engage with future speculations of designer babies and the reality of the social, cultural, and economic stigma that people face when their mutation creates so-called “undesirable effects” and question how we think about mutations and genetic difference.
Accompanying “EAU DE PARFUM TMAU” is a podcast episode “HORROR! / THE LEAKY BODY AND HORRIFIC OOZING” from the transdisciplinary research fellowship with the University of the Underground onHorror led by Agi Haines. The episode is produced by the Horror Programmes’ podcast production team Ludovica Battista, Veronika Hanáková, and James Nola featuring Agi Haines, Lyndsey Walsh, MIT scientist and leader of the Label Free Research Group Dr.
Andreas Mershin, and James Nola as the voice of Necro and Lyndsey Walsh as the voice of the Leaky Body Monster.
“EAU DE PARFUM TMAU” is an artwork based on the research project “When Leaky Bodies Reek”, which sets out to examine societal fears surrounding disease and body horror through smell. The project features “EAU DE PARFUM” along with workshops on body odor and leakiness.
This project is part of the University of the Underground’s Horror Program led by Agi Haines. Outside scientific consultation and interviewing has been conducted with Dr. Andreas Mershin, a research scientist at the Center for Bits and Atoms at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and leader of the Label Free Research Group.
The workshop component of this project has been performed in collaboration with the Bioart Society for their m/other becomings workshop program hosted by Marta de Menezes.
The Leaky Body workshop has also been performed in collaboration with Berlin research group UniSysCat Cluster of Excellence at Mall Anders.
The Leaky Body is also featured and is a part of the University of the Underground’s Horror Podcast and publication. Both podcast and publication are made in collaboration with the Horror Program’s research fellows.
“EAU DE PARFUM TMAU” is an artistic attempt to recreate the smell of the genetic condition while critically reflecting on the ways we culturally and socially value particular genetic conditions and bodily traits. Displayed in a repurposed vintage Chanel bottle in the Chanel brand logotype, “EAU DE PARFUM TMAU” specifically sets out to critically engage with future speculations of designer babies and the reality of the social, cultural, and economic stigma that people face when their mutation creates so-called “undesirable effects” and question how we think about mutations and genetic difference.
Accompanying “EAU DE PARFUM TMAU” is a podcast episode “HORROR! / THE LEAKY BODY AND HORRIFIC OOZING” from the transdisciplinary research fellowship with the University of the Underground onHorror led by Agi Haines. The episode is produced by the Horror Programmes’ podcast production team Ludovica Battista, Veronika Hanáková, and James Nola featuring Agi Haines, Lyndsey Walsh, MIT scientist and leader of the Label Free Research Group Dr.
Andreas Mershin, and James Nola as the voice of Necro and Lyndsey Walsh as the voice of the Leaky Body Monster.
“EAU DE PARFUM TMAU” is an artwork based on the research project “When Leaky Bodies Reek”, which sets out to examine societal fears surrounding disease and body horror through smell. The project features “EAU DE PARFUM” along with workshops on body odor and leakiness.
This project is part of the University of the Underground’s Horror Program led by Agi Haines. Outside scientific consultation and interviewing has been conducted with Dr. Andreas Mershin, a research scientist at the Center for Bits and Atoms at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and leader of the Label Free Research Group.
The workshop component of this project has been performed in collaboration with the Bioart Society for their m/other becomings workshop program hosted by Marta de Menezes.
The Leaky Body workshop has also been performed in collaboration with Berlin research group UniSysCat Cluster of Excellence at Mall Anders.
The Leaky Body is also featured and is a part of the University of the Underground’s Horror Podcast and publication. Both podcast and publication are made in collaboration with the Horror Program’s research fellows.