SYLVIA H JANICKI

Scents-ing Mask

A Crip Visualization of Atmospheric Exposure

The “Scents-ing Mask” is a facemask with a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor and paired with a P5.js visualization. Using video capture and a body-detection computer vision library, the system maps live VOC data onto the body, rendering it as a site of toxic accumulation.

VOCs are a group of chemicals released by building materials and household products, making them a significant contributor to indoor air pollution. They are also a common trigger for people living with environmental illness (EI).

In the visualization, particles cling to the body, intensifying when the sensor detects elevated VOC levels and gradually accumulating over time. The project challenges the notion of assimilative capacity—the belief that bodies, whether human or environmental, can absorb a certain amount of contamination without harm.