LES SANS DENTS

 

Olfactory object, immersive installation, 2024

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My two main fears are poverty and losing my teeth from falling down the stairs. As I began to research these themes more closely, I discovered an intriguing interpretation rooted in the French expression les sans dents, which translates literally as 'without teeth' or 'toothless'. In France, since the 15th century, a second and more widespread meaning has emerged: 'the poor', signifying someone who has fallen to the bottom of the social ladder, unable to eat properly or live a decent life.

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The installation centres on an altar area featuring a small staircase. On the altar sits a reliquary containing the essence of my fear. Its form and presentation are inspired by the Catholic tradition of displaying relics – bones, fingers, teeth, and jaws of saints. However, my reliquary does not contain a physical object. This fear is intangible yet deeply perceptible through smell.

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The altar, with its slightly exaggerated staircase, invites viewers to ascend and reflect both on the literal fear of falling and losing teeth and on the metaphorical fall from social grace – loss of status and descent into poverty. The staircase serves as an allegory for career advancement and social position. The olfactory composition was crafted in collaboration with French perfumer Irina Nesa.

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Publications about project:

2025 “Lisa Shtormit-Rommé”, Visual art journal, USA

2025 “Lisa Rommé. V 2”, Titan contemporary publishing, USA

2024 “The red altar in Lisa Shtormit's olfactory installation", VK.com, Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art, Russia

2024 “Winzavod. Gravity: exhibition ‘What are you afraid of?’”, Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art, Russia