Anicka Yi, born in 1971 in Seoul, South Korea, and based in New York City, is celebrated for her pioneering work in the intersection of fragrances, culinary ingredients, and organic matter within contemporary art. Blurring the lines between disciplines like biology, technology, and art, Yi creates olfactory experiences and sensory installations that delve into themes of decay, temporality, and memory. Notable for utilizing non-traditional materials such as bacteria and living organisms, Yi questions and challenges the notions of materiality and decomposition in art. Her remarkable exhibitions include “Life Is Cheap,” showcased at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, where she notably integrated scent diffusion and explored concepts of hygiene, purity, and contamination. Recognized for reshaping boundaries in art-making, Anicka Yi has earned accolades such as the Hugo Boss Prize in 2016.
