The Libertuous

‘The Libertuous’ by Sally Whelan

41 x 51cm framed

Oil & pastel on paper

An exploration of polarity, sexuality, gender, enlightened states of being, embodiment, & the integration of One’s shadow self.

When viewed through the perfume bottle ie “the lens of Libertine / Virtuous”, the painted image sharpens up to a smoother more polished version of itself, then when we remove the lenses, we are confronted with the truth. The many textures & layers, the raw beauty of Being.

I wore these incredible scents from Contradictions in Ilk daily, both separately & paired together. They accompanied me in my studio space & I also brought them into my daily shamanic practices to create a sort of sensory portal, in which to traverse the deeper layers of these two facets of character, The Libertine & The Virtuous, within myself.

Memories, stories, dreams; the realms that both scent & the practice of painting can play together within.

I went on to explore the societal labels of Libertine & Virtuous, what they mean to me and questioned where these ideas & preconceived notions arise from. I then began to abstract these labels using the scent profiles to transcend the mind & dive deep into the heart space.

The scents of Tobacco & Leather, Stone & Beeswax, Basil & Sage, all being tethers to our Mother Earth, the roots of our Being. Where we were birthed from, & where we shall return to.

I believe that scent is such a powerful tool we can use to access hidden parts of our soul. I also believe that art can reach these same places, thus the idea of bringing these two magical worlds together to dance an unknowable dance, has been a wonderful journey to go on.

Capturing different facets of our personalities, Contradictions in ILK offers fragrances to be layered depending on our mood. Try Libertine over Virtuous for an indulgent hit of brandy and orange. Alternatively, flip the layer for a softer, more innocent projection of stone and rose. The difference in layering is subtle so try multi spritzing Virtuous on top for a heady aromatic edge.