Scientists' Claimed Impossible Hue Replicated by Daring Artist's Paint Creation
Informal art buffs and tech enthusiasts are abuzz following the latest claims by British artist Stuart Semple. Known for his knack for challenging boundaries, Semple asserts he's bottle-fed the "new color" that scientists at the University of California, Berkeley were once touted for creating. Dubbed as "YOLO," Semple's creation is causing quite a stir, though some challenges remain.
Berkeley scientists succeeded in manipulating human vision to induce a new hue by firing laser pulses into volunteers' eyes. Claiming to have replicated this color breakthrough, Semple is now selling YOLO on his website. The artist's Instagram beamed, "Scientists discovered a color, and I brought it to the masses!"
But, Austin Roorda, a Berkeley team member, swiftly dispelled such claims, telling The Guardian that this so-called new color, Olo, cannot be reproduced outside their experiment's scope. "It's impossible to recreate a color that matches Olo," said Roorda. For Olo's perception is not a tangible, real-life color but rather an optical trick induced in the human eye.
Semple had anticipated this critique. According to The Guardian, he incorporated fluorescent optical brighteners in YOLO to absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible blue light, creating an intense visual experience. Nevertheless, the art community is still divided about YOLO's true color identity, with some finding it unconvincing as a replication of Olo.
"I've always believed that color should be accessible to everyone," Semple shared with Gizmodo. This mission to democratize obscure color experiences has been evident in Semple's work since he created a matte black paint in reaction to Vantablack—a coating so dark it absorbs light that was exclusively licensed for artistic use to Anish Kapoor. Semple stirred controversy by releasing a super pink pigment meant for artists while Kapoor held exclusive rights to the original. Since then, Semple's black paint has undergone multiple iterations as he continues his quest for the paint version of Vantablack.
YOLO now joins Semple's collection, priced at an eye-watering £10,000 for the general public, while it may be obtained for a more modest £29.99 if the buyer claims to be an artist. As an artistic interpretation rather than a replica, YOLO serves to provide artists with a unique visual experience while sparking debate on the boundaries of artistic expression.
- Despite Austin Roorda's dismissal, Stuart Semple continues to claim that he has replicated the "YOLO" color, created by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley.
- Gizmodo interviewed Semple, who revealed his mission to make color, specifically the experience of obscure colors, accessible to everyone.
- Semple's artistic endeavors include creating a matte black paint in response to Vantablack, a coating that absorbs light and was exclusively licensed for artistic use by Anish Kapoor.
- In a move that stirred controversy, Semple released a super pink pigment meant for artists, while Kapoor retained exclusive rights to the original.
- Social media platforms are abuzz with discussions about YOLO, as some find it an unconvincing replication of Olo, while others see it as an intriguing artistic interpretation.
- Technology enthusiasts and pop-culture lovers are not only interested in YOLO for its unique visual experience, but also for the debate it sparks about the boundaries of artistic expression.
- Artistic and tech-savvy individuals can purchase YOLO from Semple's website, with a substantial price difference between the general public and artists.
- Semple's artwork, ranging from his black paint to YOLO, encompasses a wide array of themes, including futuristic technology, science, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, books, social-media, entertainment, art, and pop-culture.
