SCENTED SCULPTURE EROTIKON

The exhibition brings together works by fourteen leading Czech photographers as part of the renowned PhotoSaintGermain project, taking place this November in Paris. In dialogue with the showcase, Pigmentarium presents its own artistic contribution — a sculptural candle infused with the perfume Erotikon, unveiled in the entrance hall of the exhibition.

Titled “Joie et Refuge”, the exhibition stands among the most significant international showcases of contemporary Czech photography, offering Parisian audiences a cross-section of works by artists such as Hana Knížová, Marie Tomanová, Bára Prášilová, Vojtěch Veškrna, and Vladimír Kiva Novotný. Hosted by the Czech Centre, the exhibition unfolds across three floors of a historic building at one of Paris’s most distinguished addresses.

Pigmentarium enriches the exhibition with its own artistic concept — a sensory layer of scent that adds a new dimension to the project and invites visitors to experience the showcase in a different way. A gourmand and gently warming fragrance separates the rooms filled with photography from the cool, perhaps rainy streets of November Paris. The Pigmentarium creative team approached scent as an artistic medium that enhances the overall atmosphere. In collaboration with sculptor Martin Žák, a unique scented sculpture — a candle perfumed with Erotikon — was created especially for this occasion.

We drew inspiration from the artistic quarter of Saint-Germain, our own perception of autumn in Paris, and the ever-present sense of eroticism that defines the city. To scent the exhibition, we chose the perfume Erotikon — a warm and seductive scent of chocolate, pink pepper, amber, and sandalwood designed to evoke the intimate atmosphere of an evening art gathering. The fragrance will drift through the space from hidden diffusers on the upper floors and from a scented sculpture placed in the entrance hall. This sculpture embodies our vision of the project and its setting. A classical female torso reminiscent of those found in the Louvre, located just a short walk away. Yet, in true Parisian spirit, the piece is also a candle. It was created in collaboration with sculptor Martin Žák, one of the few contemporary Czech artists dedicated to classical form. The story comes full circle knowing that photographer Hana Knížová captured one of Pigmentarium’s campaigns in Žák’s studio.

Three identical sculptures were created for the exhibition, each slowly burning over the course of more than three weeks. The fragrance that inspired them — Erotikon — will also be available for purchase on site for a limited time.

JOIE ET REFUGE
6.11. – 30.11.2025
Czech Centre
18 rue Bonaparte, Paris