The phrase
"alchemical properties" refers to the belief that certain substances or elements can undergo a transformation or change when exposed to certain conditions. It comes from the ancient practice of alchemy, which was the precursor to modern chemistry. Alchemists believed that by combining different materials and using various processes, they could turn ordinary substances into valuable or magical ones. So,
"alchemical properties" implies that something has the potential to change or be transformed in a special or mystical way.
Full definition
Butz's use of smoke - fragranced ceramic is meant to amplify the connection between scent and deep - seated memory, referencing
alchemical properties of fire and burned plant material.
His experimental spirit was preserved, and his interest
in alchemical properties led him to incorporate all sorts of materials into his artistic practice: meteor dust, smoke, uranium rays, lavender, cinnabar, and even a purple pigment from the mucus excreted by snails, all belonged to his recipe list.
Consisting of furniture covered with bronze blankets, on whose backs reveals drawings and text, traced and written, her objects combine multiple realities incorporating dreamlike states and
alchemical properties, always based on nuanced, multifaceted layers of space and time.