Leonardo Garza translates BYREDO fragrances into sculpture
Leonardo Garza has designed Matter / Memory, an immersive installation commissioned by BYREDO for the fragrance brand’s introduction to Mexico City in October 2026. The project translates five of BYREDO’s fragrances into physical compositions, using texture, movement, reflection and sound to examine the relationship between scent and memory. Designed as an interactive environment, the installation invites visitors to encounter each fragrance through a different selection of materials, establishing a connection between the intangible qualities of perfume and their physical interpretation.
Leonardo Garza’s installation comprises five curved fragments arranged as a continuous spatial experience. Each section contains a distinct material composition beneath a transparent surface, partially covered by thousands of stainless steel spheres. These small metallic elements form a movable curtain that visitors can manipulate with their hands, progressively exposing the surfaces below. As the spheres travel across the transparent panels, they produce subtle metallic sounds, introducing an acoustic component generated directly by human interaction. The structure combines sculptural construction with a responsive surface, allowing the appearance of the installation to change throughout the experience.
Each of the five fragments corresponds to a particular BYREDO fragrance, interpreted through materials selected for their physical and visual characteristics. Gypsy Water is represented by charcoal and ash, while Rose of No Man’s Land is associated with fractured glass. Mojave Ghost takes the form of mineral dust, Bal d’Afrique is expressed through red ochre earth, and Blanche is interpreted through folded white textile. These compositions establish individual identities within the overall structure, using differences in colour, density, texture and surface treatment to communicate the character of each fragrance without relying on conventional perfume imagery.
A low layer of fog surrounds Matter / Memory, extending the sensory installation beyond its curved surfaces. The atmospheric effect interacts with the reflective elements, while illumination reveals variations in the underlying compositions. The transparent panels allow the materials to remain partially visible even when covered by the metallic spheres, creating an alternating sequence of opacity and reflection. Visitors determine how much of each fragment is exposed through their movements, making the process of discovery an essential part of the installation. The resulting environment brings together sculptural objects, physical interaction and changing visual conditions.
The relationship between movement and sound is particularly important to Leonardo Garza’s approach. Unlike a static display, the installation requires visitors to engage directly with its surfaces to access the compositions underneath. The movement of the spheres creates an immediate connection between gesture and sensory response, while the gradual exposure of different materials introduces a temporal dimension to the experience. Through this mechanism, the project interprets memory as something encountered progressively, with individual fragments becoming accessible through interaction.
The movement of the spheres introduces an element of unpredictability, as each visitor alters the arrangement of the installation through physical contact. Materials previously hidden beneath the metallic surface become visible in changing patterns, while the sound produced by their movement accompanies the interaction. In Matter / Memory, Leonardo Garza uses these temporary configurations to suggest how memories can be recalled through sensory experiences, giving five BYREDO fragrances a physical presence without attempting to reproduce their scents.
All images courtesy of Leonardo Garza
