True Blue (after John Williamson)

Jayne McSwiney
True Blue (after John Williamson),
Scent, clear acrylic scent instrument, citrus lime, sugarcane, rum, coffee, wool, 64cm x 54cm x 20cm, 2017.

Inspired by John Williamson’s iconic jingle and song True Blue, this work explores scent as a form of sensory storytelling. I gathered and distilled materials associated with the First Fleet era, creating a unique smelling instrument. This instrument is played by moving it back and forth beneath the nose, blending the scents into a singular fragrance, True Blue.

Each scent note was matched to a musical note:

• Am = Citrus lime

• G = Sugarcane

• D7 = Rum

• D = Coffee

• C = Wool

These materials were all transported to Australia on the First Fleet in 1788, forming the historical and olfactory foundation of True Blue (2017).

Smelling notes:
Top Note:
Citrus lime

Heart Notes:
Wool and coffee

Base notes:
Rum and sugarcane