C.B. Evans creates first perfume for Commentary

C.B. Evans, a Belgian-American artist known for her installations and films, has created The Reckoner, the first olfactory work for the perfume brand Commentary. The piece is described as an invitation to imagine the world of tomorrow and was developed in collaboration with perfumer Mark Buxton.

Evans discusses youth movements in France

During a visit to Paris, Evans praised the coordination among young people in France for university and school movements. She highlighted the youth's deep understanding of their situation as instructive and relevant to her work.

Evans' art explores perception and reality

Evans' works, exhibited at institutions like the Centre Pompidou and the Tate Liverpool, examine how technological, ideological, and social structures shape our perception of reality. Her pieces such as Amos' World (2019) and Reality or Not (2023) investigate the mechanisms that determine what we consider true.

The Reckoner tackles political themes through scent

The Reckoner uses perfume as a medium to explore themes of survival, hope, and liberation. The scent is inspired by three journeys to Armenia, Hong Kong, and Algeria, where Evans explored historical and cultural narratives that influence the present.

Evans emphasizes cultural engagement and collaboration

Evans approached her research with an almost anthropological mindset, engaging with local communities and avoiding extraction of value. The perfume blends familiar scents with more vivid ones, symbolizing how past and present materials are used to create something new.

The Reckoner includes a video essay and installation

The project also includes a video essay by Evans, filmed at locations like the National Gallery in London. It is presented as part of an immersive installation at the Dover Street Parfums Market Paris, offering a multi-sensory experience of the olfactory work. The Reckoner will be available until December 2026.