Anicka Yi
: The Flavor Genome

The Espace Louis Vuitton München uncovers The Flavor Genome by Korean-American artist Anicka Yi. This 3D projection is displayed alongside Untitled (2008), by American artist Trisha Donnelly. Both works are presented within the framework of the Fondation Louis Vuitton “Hors-les-murs” programme and belong to the collection.

Anicka Yi examines the animal world, exploring the crossroads of species, hybridity and pollination. The Flavor Genome is a reflection on the union of plants and animals and the potential of artificial scents and flavours. Shot in 3D in Brazil’s rainforest, the film switches from scenes in which the artist compiles data, animated segments showing cells and microorganisms, and an anonymous scientist working on orchid petals in her laboratory. In addition, many surreal juxtapositions pair science-fiction memories with a decidedly biomedical scientific vocabulary, showing a perception of nature influenced by new scientific and technological advances, as well as resource depletion in the Global South caused by uncontrolled consumption in Western societies.

The video Untitled (2008) by Californian artist Trisha Donnelly is an enigmatic expression of incommunicability, in the form of a surreal contemporary Internet collage Via montage and the study of aromas, both artists examine how senses and perception influence our behaviour and focus on a natural world influenced by new technological and scientific advances.