An artist claims to have created paint in a 'new' impossible hue developed by scientists

An artist claims a groundbreaking hue has been created to replicate a new scientific color.

: Scientists at UC Berkeley say they've induced a 'new color' beyond normal human vision through laser pulses. British artist Stuart Semple claims to have recreated this color, marketing it as 'YOLO', though researchers deem reproduction outside the lab impossible. Despite criticism, Semple incorporates brighteners to emulate this hue. Semple's YOLO is priced at £10,000 unless the buyer is an artist, selling then for £29.99.

Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, have allegedly succeeded in creating a completely new hue beyond the visible spectrum perceived by human eyes by means of laser techniques, which have profoundly affected human visual perception. This phenomenon challenges traditional boundaries in the realm of human vision, allowing volunteers to experience colors outside the natural human gamut by manipulating sight through laser pulses. However, the scientific community is clear that this color, often referred to as 'olo', can only be experienced as part of controlled experimental conditions.

Stuart Semple, a British artist known for his work with groundbreaking pigments and colors, has responded by claiming to have manufactured a new color pigment which he has named 'YOLO'. He claims that despite the scientific community's insistence that such a color cannot physically exist outside lab-controlled conditions, he has managed to bottle it for sale. This claim is made in the context of his belief that all artists should have access to groundbreaking colors, which he emphasizes through social and professional platforms like Instagram and his website, culturehustle.com.

Semple's pigment is suggested to be similar to a 'light teal' paint when described by skeptics, but he insists on the uniqueness of his formula. According to The Guardian, Semple incorporated fluorescent optical brighteners that absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible blue light, enhancing materials' whiteness and brightness remarkably—a technique intended to emulate the experiences evoked by the Berkeley experiment. Nonetheless, Austin Roorda, a member of the Berkeley team, remains adamant that no paint can match the color engineered in their experiments as such sensations are unique optical illusions.

Historically, Semple has engaged in creative standoffs to democratize artistic resources, particularly in the case of exclusive pigments. In response to Vantablack's exclusive patent to artist Anish Kapoor, Semple released affordable variations of intensely black pigments to challenge these limits. With YOLO's retail pricing set at £10,000 for general customers and a substantially cheaper artist-exclusive rate of £29.99, Semple reiterates his commitment to challenging artistic and commercial constraints on color.

The conversation initiated by Semple is deeply intertwined with art and science's intersection, exemplifying the complexities in identifying cultural exclusivity, expanding perceptual experiences, and blurring the lines between practical and speculative applications of discoveries. Stuart Semple's relentless efforts underscore technology's burgeoning role in elevating artistic exploration and creation, emphasizing both the scientific novelty and the aesthetic allure of colors in art.

Sources: The Guardian, Gizmodo, UC Berkeley, Stuart Semple's Instagram, CultureHustle.com

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