EXHIBITION: Efori - Scent, Disgust, Desire

Brokers Gallery is proud to present: Ẹ̀fọ̀ri: Scent, Disgust, Desire explores scent as both data and memory—a sensory archive through which emotion, identity, and connection are formed and reformed. Rooted in the intimate relationship between smell and perception, the exhibition considers olfaction as a powerful conduit between the physical and psychological, the personal and the collective.

The fourth installment of the Èfọrí series, Scent, Disgust, Desire draws upon the ancient—yet ever-relevant—cycles of death, renewal, and transformation. Through scent, sight, sound, and spatial experience, the exhibition invites viewers into a process of reflection that moves between vulnerability and resilience, loss and regeneration.

Central to the exhibition is the notion of F.E.A.R.—fear of action, inaction, and self-realization. These emotional states are examined not as obstacles, but as thresholds: points at which grief, uncertainty, and introspection give way to deeper self-awareness. In this context, surrender becomes a form of knowledge, and whimsy, memory, and intuition emerge as sources of personal power.

Curated by Emmy-award winning journalist and Emmy-nominated host Anissa Ocansey, the exhibition features original scents composed from ethically sourced botanicals, each paired with visual and interactive works that respond to their emotional and conceptual dimensions. Paintings, installations, digital media, and sensory environments function as interpretive companions—expanding each fragrance into a layered narrative experience.

Visitor engagement is integral to the exhibition. Guests are invited to interact with scent samplers, access QR-code–triggered audio reflections, and contribute to an evolving reflection wall. Together, these elements form a participatory framework that emphasizes smell as both artistic medium and interpretive lens.

Rather than presenting scent as a secondary sensation, Èfọrí: Scent, Disgust, Desire foregrounds olfaction as a site of meaning-making—one that shapes how we remember, relate, and understand ourselves and others. Through its convergence of scientific inquiry, cultural memory, and poetic expression, the exhibition offers a space for introspection, renewal, and sensory discovery.