Oceanic Refractions

Scent design for the immersive installation ‘Oceanic Refractions’, at Kuppelhalle, silent green, Berlin. A CTM Festival and transmediale collaboration, 26th Jan – 4th Feb 2024.

In crafting the scent, we wanted a realistic representation of the Pacific Ocean, so I based my formula on notes of brine, seaweed in the sun, tropical storms, algae, and pollution.

Oceanic Refractions features the testimonies of Fijian, i-Kiribati and Papua New Guinean elders on kinship, self-determination and care in the face of global ecocide. Along with reflections from these teachers, artists, fisherpeople, grandparents and chiefs, we hear field recordings of the reefs of Fiji, the oceans and mangroves of Kiribati, and the shorelines of Papua New Guinea’s Duke of York Islands.

We had seen this happening. The birds have been flying off. We're just not listening to what the birds say.

- Prof Unaisi Nabobo-Baba

Through hyper-detailed soundscape compositions, combined with 360 videography, kinetic seating, and olfactory effects, Oceanic Refractions creates an unforgettable sensorial experience. Moved by listening and silence, the work offers audiences rare insights into the environmental relations sustaining Oceania’s many worlds.

For more details about the project, see the website oceanicrefractions.org and Instagram

》Creative Production: AM Kanngieser, Mere Nailatikau
》Testimonies: Lydia Jacob, Unaisi Nabobo-Baba, Simione Sevudredre, Philip Tacom, Teweiariki Teaero
》Visuals: Laisiasa Dave Lavaki, Tumeli Tuqota, Mere Nailatikau
》Sound: KMRU, AM Kanngieser
》Fabrication: Sara Murphy, Frank Prendergast (Space Forms)
》Projection System Design & Install: Olan Clarke (FrameWorks)
》Olfactory Design: Erin Adams (Smell Art), Scent Assistant: Caroline McMillan

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Oceanic Refractions is co-produced by CTM Festival and transmediale with funding by the Hauptstadtkulturfonds (German Capital Culture Fonds), Creative Australia, and with support from the European Commission.

Photo credits: Laisiasa Dave Lavaki, Franki Casillo, Caroline McMillan

a person lying on a water bed bathed in bright blue light
A bright blue circular projection screen shot from above.
a group of scent diffusers with the ocean projected behind them
People setting up an immersive installation with a big projection of a tortoise
A group of scent diffusers with the words 'Oceanic Refractions' projected behind
5 people smiling with the ocean projected onto them
the words 'oceanic refractions' projected on a big screen
people lying on beds watching a projection of fish swimming
an outside shot of a big building with a cuppola
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