Perfumer H invited Spilman to create two brand-new works for their London shop, in the striking Yves Klein blue. Inspired by the cerebral scent of blue ink on white paper, the collaboration explores the moment when colour meets surface – when ink spreads, expands and transforms into something expressive.
After her original introduction of colour in her 2024 exhibition, Make It Blue, the reception for both monochrome and colourful works by the artist has been immense. The deep and bright pigment, named by and after its creator, Yves Klein, is an exceptionally vibrant ultramarine blue. The two works are covered in a wash of the colour, with her signature strokes across the canvas working to highlight the shade even further. A singular dot is the only non-blue feature across the work, highlighting the intensity of the colour.
Responding to Ink’s sensorial world, Spilman created a series of paintings that translate scent into gesture, movement and form. Each work reflects the quiet tension between ink and canvas, echoing the way fragrance unfolds on skin.
The collaboration celebrates the intersection between painting and perfumery – two crafts rooted in intuition, materiality and emotion.
When Cat Spilman first spoke with Lyn Harris about creating the works, the fragrance Ink immediately sparked a visual language. "My mind was filled with images of slow-moving pools of blue," Spilman recalls. "Ink is about communication and creation – the moment when colour touches a surface and spreads to become words or images." These impressions became the starting point for a series of abstract paintings exploring communication, connection and expansion. Just as fragrance reveals itself through contact with skin, ink only becomes meaningful when it meets paper.
For more information on these works, or others by Spilman, send us an email.
