Merging scents and storytelling, we are are working towards a large exhibition in 2022 together with partner institutions. Our research and programmes initiated since 2019 lead towards revisiting the histories that have flowed through Oosterdok, or Eastern Dock, through more embodied and sensorial artistic practices. The Oosterdok area plays a crucial role in Amsterdam's growth since the Dutch colonial period to present times. We are curious about what hidden narratives a history of smells might reveal and about the role of smells in the development of a city. Get nosy and dive into our ongoing research and artists' projects in this blog!
You Are Not Alone When You Have Your Little Green Friend
During these uncertain and difficult times with video calls replacing actual human contact, many people have turned to meditation to cope with loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Meditation and spirituality give us a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves, typically involving a…
Perfumes, incense and fragrant oils were commonly connected with the divine — gods, sacred spaces and spiritual entities. Aromatic plants like copal and palo santo (holy tree), have their primary meaning in a more holistic, spiritual perspective that connects medicine and human well-being with…
Inspired by all the quarantinis (that is a quarantine martini) recipes plastered across social media in the past few months, it bodes to dive into the history of Jenever as Amsterdam’s--and the Netherlands--proud booze of choice. After all, those botanical scents are a large part of indulging in a…
An artist conversation with OHO curator, Jo-Lene Ong
Mariko is one of the artists selected from our 2019 open call . She is currently preparing for her upcoming exhibition with us of her new work, ' Under The Harbour' that involves underwater smells, maps, and music. I caught up with her on a live google document: talking about bodies of…
Have you smelled something stinky over Amsterdam lately?
With most people staying home during the ‘intelligent lockdown’ in the Netherlands, there are fewer businesses operating; less vehicles on the road; less planes in the sky; less boats on the water and seemingly less pollution in the air. As a city dweller, you may have become so accustomed to the…
The origins of chocolate -this sublime natural creation- are traced back to the Ulua river valley in Honduras around 1100 BCE (Norton, 2008). The Olmec community or their descendants provided the word Kakawa , which appeared in the Mayan languages as kakaw , in Nahuatl as Kakaw-atl (or cacautl…
