Scent Art Festival 2025

International Scent Art Festival - Riga

Get ready for a one-of-a-kind sensory experience! The International Scent Art Festival is coming to Riga from October 10 to 12 at the creative hub "Veldze." This unique event, one of the first of its kind in Europe, will bring together 40 artists from 8 countries to explore the integration of scent into art forms like visual art, music, literature, dance, and performance.

What to expect:

- An exhibition featuring 18 artworks where you can see, hear, and smell the art.

- Live performances that combine sound, movement, and scent.

- Workshops on aromography and lectures on the fascinating interaction of senses.

- A special scent tour of Riga to discover the city through its aromas.

Don't miss our special guests from Argentina! Maria Zegna, Bruno Mesz, and Sebastian Tedesco will be bringing their world-famous smell organ to Riga. They will use this unique instrument in five different performances, including a gastronomic show, a contemporary music piece performed by flutist Lieba Dobīčina, and a video and scent fusion.

The festival's exhibition will feature 18 works—paintings, prints, installations, and sound installations that include an olfactory experience. The exhibition will feature well-known artists from around the world, including the Norwegians Erik Fooladi and Andreas Barth, the Finn Eeva-Liisa Puhakka, the Portuguese Maria Miguel Pratas, the New Zealander Jo Burzynska, Chinese representatives Shenbai Hu, Yan Ke, Max Ma, and the Greek Helias Dzimoulakis. Latvian art will be represented by Santa Kristiāna Krūze, Emīlija Grinberga, Kristīna Elettra Rubīne, Evija Ābrama, Elīna Semane, Katrīna Levāne, Sabīne Vekmane, Artūrs Petersons, Elīne Buka, Liene Lintere, Ēvalds Lazarevičs, and Sandris Mūriņš. Artist Arnis Balčus consulted on the exhibition's creation, Arturs Arnis arranged the exhibition, and Junyu Wen curated the works of the Chinese artists.

The festival will feature artists with scent and sound performances: the Norwegians Ur Sæbø, Erik Fooladi, and Andreas Barth, as well as the Latvians Normal Babyy, Ernests Valts Circenis, and Dj Danii. A scent dance performance will be presented by Ieva Vilciņa, while scent poetry readings will be given by Kristiāna Šuksta, Diana Lelis, Elīza Eikerte (Latvia) and Maria Miguel Pratas (Portugal). Performance artists Sandris Mūriņš, Kate Dudure, Santa Igaune, and Annija Sprīvule will surprise with their works, while a scent tour of Riga will be led by Solvita Lazdāne. Lectures on the interaction of scent and other senses will be given by Jurģis Šķilters, and Sandris Mūriņš will talk about the fundamentals of aromography. An aromography workshop will be led by Amanda Nīcmane, where the "Scent Camera" technology will be demonstrated, which allows for the recording, storing, and re-experiencing of the scents of various food products.