Bjarne Melgaard's Fragrance Exhibition at VI, VII Gallery Explores Tragedy and Class

Norwegian artist Bjarne Melgaard unveiled his fragrance collection, The End, in collaboration with perfumer Bjørn Kristian Hilberg at the VI, VII gallery in Oslo. The exhibition, titled Abuse Is the Beauty of the Working Class, took place from 25 October to 15 December 2024. A scent laboratory was set up, complete with beakers and filling machines, displaying three fragrances—Joey, Speedball, and Stabfrenzy Forever—on marble surfaces, while a fourth scent, Crispo, was created on-site in tribute to the late gallerist Andrew Crispo. Joey pays homage to gay porn star Joey Stefano. The gallery also featured floral arrangements made from shattered essence vials and ink sketches related to Melgaard's legal proceedings. His past collaborations include a 2013 'sex kit' with Eckhaus Latta and a 2017 collection with Semiotext(e) and Supreme.