Olfactory Visions: Yiru Wang’s Artistic Journey Through Senses and Ecosystems

Yiru Wang is a visual artist from China, currently based in London. She completed her Master’s degree in Textiles at the University of the Arts London and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Art & Design from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in China. Recognised for her innovative work at the intersection of art and technology, Yiru has received multiple accolades, including the Silver Award at the 2024 London Design Awards and honorable mentions from the Medusa Art Award and the Milan Art Award. Her artistic practice focuses on expanding sensory perception and exploring the integration of technology and the humanities, inspiring audiences to discover new perspectives on experience and understanding.

Her work On the Nose, featured in the About Time exhibition at Swanfall Art in 2024, delves into the abstract intricacies of olfactory perception. The piece begins with the question: "Have you ever wondered what happens in the brain when we perceive odors?" By using EEG technology, Yiru visualizes brainwave responses to various scents, bridging olfactory perception with visual and tactile expression. Translating these brainwave data into 3D-printed models, she enables viewers to engage with the neurological “essence” of each scent. This sensory feedback loop - where odours are processed and represented in abstract form - underscores the nuanced and intangible nature of smell. Through her innovative approach, which includes using scent-related raw materials in 3D printing, she adds a multisensory dimension, incorporating both olfactory and tactile experiences to explore the interplay of senses. Yiru’s work in On the Nose renders the invisible language of scent visible and tangible, inviting viewers to consider how the brain interprets something as fleeting as aroma.

In the series Companion Species, Yiru shifts her focus to ecological resilience and interspecies symbiosis, symbolized through the lifecycle of mushrooms in a post-human context. Set in a speculative future where human influence has receded, Companion Species envisions fungi as pivotal to the ecosystem, representing endurance and regeneration. By portraying mushrooms as central figures in a balanced, post-human environment, Yiru addresses themes of adaptability, coexistence, and ecological rebirth. The series, rendered in a soft, organic visual style, suggests a serene coexistence where fungi flourish amid the remnants of human civilization, proposing the potential for new ecological harmonies. This work invites viewers to reflect on humanity’s place within the ecosystem, while acknowledging the resilience of non-human species to thrive and restore balance.

Yiru Wang’s body of work presents a profound inquiry into sensory perception, ecological interdependence, and technological integration. Her sophisticated approach to merging art and science transcends traditional boundaries, offering viewers a reimagined way of perceiving intangible experiences and encouraging interdisciplinary exploration. Through pioneering uses of EEG data and multisensory 3D renderings, she reshapes the viewer’s engagement with scent perception, making the ephemeral accessible and tangible. Concurrently, her exploration of ecological symbiosis repositions non-human species as central to future regenerative processes, urging contemplation of the interconnectedness within the natural world. Yiru’s practice exemplifies a visionary approach to contemporary art, inspiring viewers to critically examine humanity’s sensory and ecological connections within an increasingly digitalised landscape.

Images: ©Yiru Wang, Courtesy of the Artist