An olfactory installation by artist and researcher Karola Braga, presented in 2022 at the Museu da Casa Brasileira and Galeria Ibirapitanga in São Paulo. The work features plaster replicas of tree trunks from the Atlantic Forest, each infused with the recreated scents of four native orchid species—Cattleya labiata, Miltonia regnellii, Cattleya aclandiae, and Zygopetalum crinitum—all of which are threatened with extinction. Using headspace technology, Braga captured the authentic aromas of these orchids without harming the plants, highlighting the fragility of Brazil’s most biodiverse biome, of which only 12.4% remains. The installation invites reflection on environmental degradation and the importance of preserving natural heritage.
What remains of hugs about to be extinct
Karola Braga
São Paulo, Brazil
Biodiversity Loss / Deforestation
