Scientists' Hypothesized Unattainable Color Allegedly Manifested in Artwork by an Artist
Outrageous Stunt or Groundbreaking Art? Artistic Genius Claims to Bottle a New Color
In an astonishing twist of science and art, Stuart Semple, a renowned British artist, has claimed to have reproduced a "new color" that scientists at the University of California, Berkeley recently discovered. This mind-bending breakthrough, which they've labeled "YOLO," is now available for purchase on Semple's website.
The world of science and art has been abuzz since the researchers at Berkeley allegedly unveiled their secret of making humans see a color beyond the natural human spectrum. By firing laser pulses into volunteers' eyes, they supposedly induced the new hue. Now, Semple wants to take it to the next level, making this elusive color accessible to the masses.
Semple wrested this supposed "new color" from the confines of scientific laboratories and gave it the intriguing name "YOLO." He played coy on his Instagram, stating, "Scientists discover new color and I've already liberated it." Donning the title of an artisan alchemist, he made YOLO available at a seemingly reasonable price compared to the astronomical cost usually associated with groundbreaking discoveries.
However, the scientific community has raised eyebrows, doubting Semple's claim. Austin Roorda, a scientist from the Berkeley team, spoke to The Guardian and claimed that the color can't be reproduced outside of the experiments. Roorda argued that the color can't exist naturally because it's an optical trick that human vision can't truly experience in reality. This leaves room for questioning whether Semple is merely peddling a light teal paint under the false pretense of it being the same color as the experimental discovery.
Determined to defy criticism, Semple has insisted on creating an authentic product designed to mimic the experiment's visual impact. He added "fluorescent optical brighteners" to the paint to stimulate specific wavelengths of visual experience, attempting to bring the science closer to the artist's palette. Gizmodo reached out to Semple for comment, and he asserted that his motive was to democratize color, ensuring that everyone had equal opportunities to create art with hues that scientists and corporate entities often hoard.
This isn't the first time Semple has upended the art world with a color claiming to mimic a more scientifically-fantastical counterpart. Back in 2016, Anish Kapoor exclusively licensed Vantablack, a coating so dark that it absorbs light. In response, Semple retaliated by releasing an extraordinarily matte black paint, effectively making it accessible to everyone (except Kapoor). He's also sold super pink pigments and various versions of his black paint in a quest to create a non-synthetic, universally accessible alternative to Vantablack. Semple's YOLO, therefore, should be regarded as another art stunt as much as it is his attempt at producing a "new color" for the aesthetic deprived.
YOLO is currently on sale for £10,000, or for a more affordable £29.99, if the buyer identifies as an artist. Whether this "new color" will live up to the hype or be another gimmick remains to be seen. Regardless, the intrigue and controversy surrounding it are bound to stir up passion in artists, color enthusiasts, and skeptics alike.
- In an intriguing blend of technology, science, and art, Stuart Semple, a noteworthy British artist, has asserted that he has replicated a "new color" after researchers at UC Berkeley discovered it.
- The inventive color dubbed "YOLO" by Semple can now be purchased on his website, stirring excitement in the world of gizmos, science, and pop-culture.
- Researchers at UC Berkeley supposedly induced this new hue by firing laser pulses into volunteers' eyes, challenging the limitations of the visible spectrum.
- Semple's goal is to bring this elusive color to the mainstream, providing a glimpse of a tech-infused future in health-and-wellness, lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and entertainment.
- Artificial intelligence, books, and social media have all been buzzing with discussions on the authenticity of Semple's claim, as some scientists question its reproducibility outside laboratory settings.
- Critics argue that the color cannot exist naturally, as it's claimed to be an optical illusion that human vision cannot genuinely perceive in reality.
- To quell doubts, Semple has endeavored to create an authentic product that replicates the visual impact of the experimental discovery by incorporating fluorescent optical brighteners into the paint.
- The intrigue surrounding YOLO has undeniably drawn attention from the global tech and art community, prompting numerous outlets, such as Gizmodo, to investigate his claims.
- In the past, Semple has sparked controversy by creating alternative pigments, like his matte black paint, in response to Anish Kapoor's exclusive licensing of Vantablack.
- By making his "new color" accessible to everyone, Semple hopes to challenge the exclusivity that often surrounds scientific discoveries in the realm of pigment, a move that could induce a paradigm shift in the art world.
- As YOLO lives up to the hype or proves to be another compelling stunt in Semple's career, it has already set a precedent for democratizing color and sparking debates on the intersection of art, technology, and science.
