Tech company Sussex Nanosystems developed a technology that produces an ultimate black color during their work on nanotubes and light. The process, called Vantablack, attracted the attention of artist Anish Kapoor, who just had to have access to it to produce his art work. Sussex Nanosystems signed an exclusive rights contract with Kapoor. Other artists objected, saying everybody should be able to use any color they want in their art work.
So steps in artist Stuart Semple. After being unable to get access to Vantablack, he developed his own color, which he calls “pinkest pink”. He’s selling it to anybody and everybody who wants to use it, and the demand outgrew his ability to produce it. But those who bought it, had to sign a contract that they would not be Anish Kapoor, buy it for Anish Kapoor or sell it or give it to Anish Kapoor.
The fight turned into an affordable, pretty black, black paint, only not for Anish Kapoor. And the makers of Vantablack seems to be working on more affordable, very black blacks, also available to people other than Anish Kapoor. So IMO he lost that fight.
Might seems mundane and pointless on the surface. However I think this quote encapsulates what I find important about the whole kerfuffle: “New technologies are supposed to turn into new art. That’s how culture processes and understands them.” Switch out “supposed” with “should have the possibility” and I agree wholly. Every artist have a much greater chance at making a technology culturally and artistically relevant, than one. I’m happy it seems Surrey NanoSystems have wisened up to that.
(Though the article in the OP is a complete treatment of the subject–the Tom Scott video is more about the pink itself and how/why its reproducible on monitors, etc.)
My plan is to paint an instrument I’m building black, only with pink details around the controls. Hopefully the corners won’t be visible from a distance, only the pink!
“‘It’s the wild colour scheme that freaks me out,’ said Zaphod, whose love affair with the ship had lasted almost three minutes into the flight. 'Every time you try and operate these weird black controls that are labeled in black on a black background, a little black light lights up in black to let you know you’ve done it.’”
Zaphod Beeblebrox, The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe
