Blog | Michael Borkowsky | Perfumer of the People

Sep 28, 2019
1 min

Private View Invitation – Perfume as Practice at Centrespace, Bristol

I would like to invite you all to the Private View of my upcoming Perfume as Practice exhibition at Centrespace, Bristol on Friday 4th October, 6-8pm. Perfume as Practice is an exhibition that looks at the artistic potential of perfumery and how it can be used to create portraiture. The exhibition will comprise 18 perfumes, each a portrait of another artist. These perfume portraits are achieved through a process that begins by asking artists the question ‘why do you make art?

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Michael Borkowsky

Jun 1, 2018
2 min

Pondering Platforms Project

Earlier this month I exhibited at Platforms Project, Athens as part of a group exhibition that looked at the contemplation of our solar system. I, alongside artists Sharon Mossbeck and Alison Whitmore, took 3 planets and interpreted them through our own modes of enquiry with reference to Ancient Greece. Sharon’s work comprised painting and cross-stitch, Alison’s comprised sculptural and works and I presented 3 perfumes, each representing the Greek gods of Zeus, Kronos and Our

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Michael Borkowsky

Apr 23, 2018
1 min

Perfume Portrait #75 – Aimee Ellen

Aimee Ellen 50ml EDT Head – Sweet Orange Heart – Juniper Berry Body – Frankincense Description – The fragrance opens with inviting citrus notes before revealing oils synonymous with harmony and peace – agent to purity. This perfume is one of fifteen housed at Bureau, Blackburn from 12th – 26th April as part of my solo exhibition, Perfume as Practice. #portraiture #aroma #culture #making #Art #perfume #smell #perfumery #exhibitions #fragrance #portraits #events #Scent

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Michael Borkowsky

Apr 22, 2018
1 min

Perfume Portrait #74 – Jackie Berridge

Jackie Berridge 50ml EDT Head – Lemon Heart – Geranium Body – Rosewood, Ylang Ylang Description – A childhood sense of wonder heads this fragrance and is referenced by the playfulness of lemon. From there the fragrance reveals blooming flowers and majestic trees; a testament to how childhood informs creativity and how embracing and nurturing innate passions allow them to bloom and grow. This perfume is one of fifteen housed at Bureau, Blackburn from 12th – 26th April as part

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Michael Borkowsky

Apr 18, 2018
1 min

Perfume Portrait #70 – Dave Akehurst

Dave Akehurst 50ml EDT Head – Basil, peppermint Heart – Cypress, ginger Body – Cedarwood Description – A fresh, earthy composition that chooses fragrances for the balancing and cleansing of the throat, and as such metaphorically symbolising communication and sharing. Ginger also emits a fiery kick that expresses a certain individuality. Cedarwood for the immune system. This perfume is one of fifteen housed at Bureau, Blackburn from 12th – 26th April as part of my solo exhibi

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Perfume as Practice at Bureau, Blackburn

Michael Borkowsky

Apr 15, 2018
1 min

Perfume as Practice at Bureau, Blackburn

Perfume as Practice SS18 – my 5th solo show about perfume and it’s capacity for portraiture, is now open at Bureau Centre for the Arts, Blackburn. The exhibition houses 15 perfume portraits, which will each be documented on this website in the coming weeks. It also houses visual material and other scented experiences that enhance and contextualise the perfumes on display. In the spirit of devising themed collections, Perfume as Practice draws upon saints in order to categoris

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Michael Borkowsky

Dec 7, 2017
1 min

Perfume Portrait #48 – Red

Red 50ml EDT Head – Grapefruit, tea Tree Heart – Coriander Seed Body – Frankincense Description – This fragrance harnesses medicinal tendencies while asserting a compulsion to create. Give this fragrance time and you will discover its hidden depth. This fragrance was housed at Surface gallery, Nottingham, from 3rd – 18th November. #portraiture #aroma #Red #therapy #culture #making #Art #medicine #perfume #smell #frankincense #exhibitions #compulsuion #fragrance #portraits #ev

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Michael Borkowsky

Dec 4, 2017
1 min

Perfume Portrait #47 – Chris Oliver

Chris Oliver 50ml EDT Head – Grapefruit, Tangerine Heart – Lavender Body – Clove Bud, Myrrh Description – Drawing cues from travel, this fragrance provides you with all the apparatus you need for the road ahead. This perfume was exhibited at Surface Gallery, Nottingham, from 3rd – 18th November 2017 #portraiture #roads #culture #Art #perfume #smell #perfumery #exhibitions #fragrance #portraits #Travel #events #Scent

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Michael Borkowsky

Dec 2, 2017
1 min

Perfume Portrait #46 – Stacey Warner

Stacey Warner 50ml EDT Head – Elemi, Tangerine Heart – Lavender Body – Vetivert Description – A picture of stillness, this fragrance is a quietly compassionate tonic that promotes inner peace and lifts the spirits The fragrance was housed at Surface Gallery, Nottingham, from 3rd – 18th November 2017. #aroma #therapy #culture #tonic #making #meditation #ortraitur #Art #perfume #smell #perfumery #stillness #exhibitions #portraits #events #Scent

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Michael Borkowsky

Nov 28, 2017
1 min

Perfume Portrait #44 – Rachel Zan

Rachel Zan 50ml EDT Head – Lemon, Mandarin Heart – Ho Leaf Body – Rosewood, Benzoin Description – Symbolic of a fruit tree, this fragrance is wholly joyous and describes the rich pickings life offers. This perfume was displayed at Surface Gallery, Nottingham, from 3rd – 18th November 2017. #fruit #happiness #portraiture #aroma #Tree #fruittree #joy #making #Art #perfume #perfumery #wood #lemon #portraits #Scent

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Michael Borkowsky

Nov 15, 2017
2 min

Perfume as Practice at Surface Gallery

This November saw me open my 4th Perfume as Practice solo show – and the first one to be ran outside Sheffield. Perfume as Practice AW17 opened at Surface Gallery, Nottingham, on the 3rd November and runs until the 18th. This particular incarnation comprises 20 perfume portraits and 5 painted representations of constellations. I have chosen ‘Constellations’ as an overarching theme because it occurred to me that there are parallels between space and fragrance – both are myster

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Orchard Square Residency – The Story So Far

Michael Borkowsky

Oct 10, 2017
2 min

Orchard Square Residency – The Story So Far

Perfume as Practice – my current artist’s residency at Orchard Square, Sheffield – affords me one month housed in what is nominally a retail unit in the heart of Sheffield city centre. Positioned in between Starbucks and Waterstones, my residency aims to confound expectations of another product with highly commercial connotations – perfume. My residency provides other artists with a free consultancy service, and the perfumes will be designed as an intimate and direct response

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Call Out to Artists – Why do You Make Art?

Michael Borkowsky

Sep 22, 2017
1 min

Call Out to Artists – Why do You Make Art?

***Call out to artists – Why do you make art?*** My upcoming solo exhibition at Surface Gallery, Nottingham, will see me exhibit 20 perfumes. Each perfume will be a portrait of another artist, achieved through an established process that begins by asking artists the question ‘why do you make art?’ Then, through a method of intuition and investigation, I choose relevant and meaningful oils based on the answer received in order to create a fragrance that captures the essence of

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Michael Borkowsky

Sep 9, 2017
1 min

Assessing Alternative Portraits

Last night saw the opening of Alternative Portraits – a group exhibition at Access Space, Sheffield devised by myself and Sharon Mossbeck. The aim of Alternative Portraits was to investigate innovative depictions of portraits as well as provide a platform for artists who approach portraiture in a fresh and challenging way. 16 artists from across the UK are represented, each with their own response to the theme of ‘Alternative Portraits.’. My own contribution saw me design a p

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Michael Borkowsky

Aug 22, 2017
2 min

A Scented Self Portrait

Through an established process of asking artists ‘Why do you make art?’ then using the response received to inform the use of fragrances, I have been making ‘perfume portraits’ of other artists for over 2 years, amassing 40 perfumes so far – and counting. Naturally, the question that emerges as an audience becomes more familiar with my work is ‘Have you made a self portrait in this way?’ The answer, up until now, has been no. However, upon devising a group exhibition (along w

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Open Call to Artists – Alternative Portraits

Michael Borkowsky

May 29, 2017
3 min

Open Call to Artists – Alternative Portraits

The deadline for this open call has now closed. An Open Call to submit work for an exhibition of Alternative Portraits. Artists Michael Borkowsky and Sharon Mossbeck present Alternative Portraits, an open call exhibition of non-traditional portraiture to be run at Access Space, Sheffield, from 8th September – 4th October 2017. We are looking for artists to submit work to us under the theme of Alternative Portraits. We are particularly interested in the use of new technologies

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Forthcoming Exhibition Opportunity – Alternative Portraits

Michael Borkowsky

Mar 10, 2017
1 min

Forthcoming Exhibition Opportunity – Alternative Portraits

Myself and Sharon Mossbeck are preparing an Open Call to artists on the theme of Alternative Portraits. Alternative Portraits will be an exhibition of non-traditional portraiture. It could be figurative or non-figurative. We are looking for work which pushes the boundaries of traditional portraiture, or explores what portraiture can be. We are particularly interested in the use of new technology, including 3D printing and laser cutting, although all formats will be given the

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Michael Borkowsky

Dec 5, 2016
1 min

Perfume Portrait #39 – Elaine

Head – Bergamot Heart – Cypress Body – Dill Weed, Myrrh Description – A symbol of symbiosis. This fragrance celebrates synchronicity by placing the heavy textures of dill weed and myrrh against the crispness of cypress and bergamot. Perfectly encapsulating a sense of harmony. This perfume was created by utilising the artist’s response to the question ‘why do make art?’ It is included in Perfume as Practice AW16 – an exhibition at Bank Street Arts, Sheffield comprising of 14 p

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Perfume Portrait #36 – Sharon Hall Shipp

Michael Borkowsky

Dec 3, 2016
1 min

Perfume Portrait #36 – Sharon Hall Shipp

Sharon Hall Shipp 50ml EDT Head – Petitgrain Heart – Pine Body – Vetiver, Birch tar Description – All encompassing, with depth and texture, this fragrance depicts the diversity and complexity of creative action by symbolising a vast forest. This perfume was created by utilising the artist’s response to the question ‘why do make art?’ It is included in Perfume as Practice AW16 – an exhibition at Bank Street Arts, Sheffield comprising of 14 perfume portraits themed within the w

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Michael Borkowsky

Dec 3, 2016
1 min

Perfume Portrait #35 – John Wilkinson

John Wilkinson 50ml EDT Head – Apple, Cut Grass Heart – Pine Body – Cedarwood Description – Everything you need to comprehend an apple tree. Yet scratch away the surface and a fallacy is revealed – as synthetic fragrance oils have been used. This highlights the trials of communicating from industrial contexts. This perfume was created by utilising the artist’s response to the question ‘why do make art?’ It is included in Perfume as Practice AW16 – an exhibition at Bank Street

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