Expanded Drops: The free exhibition where fragrance transforms into visual art at Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris

What if perfume stopped just floating in the air and left a tangible mark instead? With Expanded Drops, Maison Francis Kurkdjian invites you to look a perfume straight in the eye. It’s a free exhibition where the olfactory takes a new turn, shifting from scent to sight.

At the heart of this immersive sensory experience is Swiss-Canadian photographer Christelle Boulé. Her approach is precise, almost alchemical: she delicately places drops of perfume onto traditional silver photographic paper. Then, she allows the magic to happen. “It’s incredibly exciting to capture something invisible in a visual form. I managed to develop the imprint of a scent,” she explains. Each print is then handcrafted—carefully developed in chemical baths, dried, and illuminated. Here, perfume becomes material, and fragrance transforms into an image.

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Born from Francis Kurkdjian's curiosity about the artist's craft and their shared passion for perfume, the Expanded Drops series presents abstract and poetic photographs. These images are conceived as visual portraits of olfactory imprints—an alternative way to experience scent without sprays or vapors.

Initially showcased in 2025 at the Palais de Tokyo as part of the exhibition Parfum, Sculpture of the Invisible. 30 Years of Works by Francis Kurkdjian, the series is now making its way back to Paris. Expanded Drops will be on display from January 21 to March 29, 2026 at La Maison Francis Kurkdjian, located in the 1st arrondissement.

Open every day from 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM, with Sunday hours until 7:00 PM, the exhibition is free to enter.
An artistic detour where each drop leaves its mark… on paper.