For the course of Storia delle Cose given by the teacher Vittorio Marchis we were asked to create a blog to deepen our knowledges about a color and the wide world that exists around each of them that we have no idea about. Sometimes we don't know their names, how to create them or we don't even know about their existence... but colors are everywhere.
When I first started looking for informations, it was very hard to find things about the color Amaranth itself. Since the very beginning, while looking for the meaning of the color and color code, I found out that Amaranth is a flower. So most of the information being found was related to the plant or its grain. The color itself comes from the color of the flower and it also gets its meaning from its Greek mythology: ever-lasting. To a better definition, it can be found on the Dictionary of Colors by A. Maerz and M. A. Paul in the post protagonist, even though it's not represented by the color known today as Amaranth.
To make the search easier we looked for how to say our color name in different languages so we would find a bigger diversity of interactions of the color and different cultures. The languages helped me a lot in posts such as the one about music (in which Amaranth can be found in song titles, in their lyrics, as names of albuns or even names of bands all over the world), fashion design (where it can be found on the toge universitaire, a traditional costume used by students of the science field in France) and cinema.
Continuing on the Design field, it can be found in product design in a whole amount of objects. The one I chose to represent the color was Kouple Bathtub and Sink by Karim Rashid since the artist himself is known for using a lot of pink shades in his designs. In graphic design, it had been found in advertisements from a long time. I picked some examples, but the color is very present in cigarettes ads or related to women. It can also be highly found in Italian soccer teams' logos. From that and whole other researches, I came to know that Amaranth is very present in the Italian environment, and it is even the official color of one of its cities, Reggia Calabria.
Moving forward in the geographic world, if you're thinking about going to Portugal, you should know about the small town Amarante in the north of the country. It takes the name of the color, but it's nothing related to it. On the other side, in Russia, we can find the color on the architecture of The State Historical Museum in Moscow.
In the scientific world it can hardly be seen by the physics who believe that the pink is the absence of the green color. But the truth is that it exists and can be seen due to the red sensitive cones activation together with a certain amount of blue and green sensitive cones. That's how it's possible for us to see the food additive E number E123 found in Chemistry. Even though its use is prohibited in a lot of countries, in the ones it isn't, it's a food colorant that creates the Amaranth color. Not only food can be artificially colored, but they can also be originally with the pinkish shade. The color can be specially found in fruits and vegetables. The amaranth dye is also used in a 1977's patent about Blood Gas Control to give the red color to the acidosis control.
But that's in the "exact's" field. In the "humanistic's" field it can mostly be found in different types of arts, such as in paintings, comics or video games. It can also be revealed in various literatures, such as documents or poems and further more in popular sayings that people use in their every days.
During the lessons, we deepend our knowledges using the book Pensiero Selvaggio by the anthropologist Levi Strauss and Autopsia di una Macchina, a presentation by teacher Vittorio Marchis. According to the first one, we should talk about the primitive dimension of the color and with the second one try to enter in the "color's body" and talk about its anatomy as we were it.
For the color cloud I chose the flower as the shape of my brainstorm, for obvious reasons, and filled it with some words that, after all these discoverers better describe the Amaranth color in my opinion.
I hope you agree with it after reading all the posts and getting to know this beautiful and deep color better! Hope you enjoyed this adventure as much as I did!
Friday, December 23, 2016
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Post XIV - Color Cloud
Amaranth Flower
Even though it's not eternal, it brings happiness to all kind of people.
With its naturalness it's able to pass on various emotions.
It's capable of touching the bottom of the soul of the most passionate.
And its vibrant color overflows with meanings.
Enchant men with its delicacy.
Make women fall in love with its beauty.
Post XXIII - Savage Color
Aztec Ceremony
The Amaranth was the favorite grain of Aztec Empire, where it was used in religious ceremonies. They used the amaranth to build statues of their Gods. In the end of the celebration, the statue was destroyed and eaten. Looking forward to stop these traditions, spanish colonizers prohibited the cultivation of amaranth which grew for years just as weed. The amaranth was discovered again in 1970 and gained popularity due to it's nutritional value.
Pink Night
The Notte Rosa is subtitled the summer’s New Year’s Eve because everybody – young and old – feels the urge to join in the party. It runs all along the Adriatic Riviera on a given Saturday at the start of July. Towns like Rimini deck themselves out with pink lights, pink decorations, pink hot-air balloons etc, to get in the spirit. Like the famous White Nights organised in European cities like Paris or Rome, the idea is to create a safe and pleasant environment for friends, families, tourists, and in particular women (hence the pink theme) to enjoy themselves partying through the night. Bars, shops and restaurants stay open all night and at midnight there is a spectacular synchronised fireworks display along the 110km of coastline including towns like Ravenna, Rimini, Riccione and Cattolica.
The Amaranth was the favorite grain of Aztec Empire, where it was used in religious ceremonies. They used the amaranth to build statues of their Gods. In the end of the celebration, the statue was destroyed and eaten. Looking forward to stop these traditions, spanish colonizers prohibited the cultivation of amaranth which grew for years just as weed. The amaranth was discovered again in 1970 and gained popularity due to it's nutritional value.
Pink Night
The Notte Rosa is subtitled the summer’s New Year’s Eve because everybody – young and old – feels the urge to join in the party. It runs all along the Adriatic Riviera on a given Saturday at the start of July. Towns like Rimini deck themselves out with pink lights, pink decorations, pink hot-air balloons etc, to get in the spirit. Like the famous White Nights organised in European cities like Paris or Rome, the idea is to create a safe and pleasant environment for friends, families, tourists, and in particular women (hence the pink theme) to enjoy themselves partying through the night. Bars, shops and restaurants stay open all night and at midnight there is a spectacular synchronised fireworks display along the 110km of coastline including towns like Ravenna, Rimini, Riccione and Cattolica.
Post XXII - Architecture
The State Historical Museum is the museum of Russian history located in Moscow between Red Square and Manege Square. It's situated where it used to be the Principal Medicine Store, built by order of Peter the Great in the Moscow baroque style. The present structure is project by Vladimir Osipovich Shervud, a Russian artist and architect, based on neo-Russian design between 1875 and 1881. The museum was founded in 1872 by interest to promote Russian history and national self-awareness.
Contrary to its name, Moscow’s Red Square isn't red in color (they were actually whitewashed at certain times in history) so the Square doesn't take that name because of the color nor its association to communism. Rather, the name came about because the Russian word красная (krasnaya) can mean either “red” or “beautiful” .
Contrary to its name, Moscow’s Red Square isn't red in color (they were actually whitewashed at certain times in history) so the Square doesn't take that name because of the color nor its association to communism. Rather, the name came about because the Russian word красная (krasnaya) can mean either “red” or “beautiful” .
Post XXI - Protagonist
A. Maerz and M. A. Paul talk about the amaranth color in their Dictionary of Color being one of the main ways for people to acknowledge about this color. The book is from New York, 1930 McGraw Hill Book Company and Amaranth is spoke of in page 189; Color Sample of Amaranth in page 127.
The color mentioned in the book is actually known today as Amaranth Deep Purple tone but it's referred as Amaranth.
"amaranth - The reddish-purple or deep crimson colour of the leaves of the Amarantus. The
words amarantin, amarantine and amaranthine, signifying ‘fadeless’, ‘immortal’
or ‘unwithering’, refer to Pliny’s imaginary and never fading amaranth flower.
Also a purple food additive (E123)."
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Other Designs
Amaranth
A 106 meters long motor yacht with amazingly elegant design pluri celebrated by motoryaght design magazines.
The design has been conceived in 2011 by bicubedesign. Interestingly the proportions and the shape has been ideated by Guido Bottazzo with the speedform technique.
The design has been conceived in 2011 by bicubedesign. Interestingly the proportions and the shape has been ideated by Guido Bottazzo with the speedform technique.
Name of the project: AMARANTH
Description: 3 decks, 106 meter long luxury motoryacht.
Total lenght: 106 meters
Total lenght: 106 meters
Alma Pm - Louis Vuitton
Effortlessly stylish, the Alma PM is one of Louis Vuitton's iconic designs. Looking marvelously elegant in shiny Monogram Vernis leather, it is still an ideal size for everyday use. Available in the colors: rose ballerine, hot pink, amarante, cherry, blueberry, magenta, dune and noir.
Video Game
Arrogance—The only dependable thing about the future is uncertainty.
Amarant's quote
Amarant Coral nicknamed The Flaming Amarant or Red, and also known as Scarlet Hair, is a playable character from Final Fantasy IX. He is introduced to the player as Red-headed Man before his name can be chosen.
Amarant appears in-game as a tall man with red dreadlocks, a red chinstrap beard and bluish skin. His outfit consists of a green vest and trousers, a red belt round his waist, red bands on his upper arms and green bands on his wrists, and brownish-red boots.
A rather arrogant man who fights with the honor of a warrior, Amarant also seems a little naive, confused at Zidane's actions throughout the game, and follows him to understand more. He is enigmatic and rarely opens up.
Covers
1906
‘Le Petit Larousse Illustré’, a single-volume encyclopaedia, is published for the first time.
1904
"Woman" magazine with a cover design by Septimus Bennett, younger brother of Arnold Bennett, the Potteries novelist and the magazine’s former editor
Post XX - Fashion Design
France's Academic Dress - Science Field
Most people think that graduation ceremony is an original tradition from the Anglo-Saxons, but it was actually in France, University of Paris, where students established this tradition in the early Renaissance. The academics caps and gowns were first used by students and teachers of the universities to keep them warm in unheated buildings. This practice disappeared in May 1968 but has been now brought back to many schools and universities, combining tradition and modernity, to celebrate graduation, exalting:
- Completion of several years of effort, the transition into the professional world and thus immense pride for the student and for his relatives
- brand image and prestige of a school. 
The full costume is:
- a dress: rather like a cassock , she runs in front of a row of buttons (black or specific color) and lagging behind
- a robe: two vertical strips of fabric on either side of the buttons or the specific color or black moire;
- an epitoge: a strip of cloth from the specific color attached by a button at the left shoulder, with a wide and triangular end (in the rear) and a longer, narrow end (the front), each end with one to three rows of ermine according to the rank of the wearer;
- a belt identical to that of the Roman Catholic church: long and wide, it is finished in fringes (gold or the specific color), and features a large ornamental knot and a long end hanging down in front of the costume on the left ;
- a flap white: it is a kind of Baptist jabot or lace according to the rank of the wearer, over which men can wear a white bow tie for very formal occasions;
- a toque (normally reserved only for men, and never worn on the head but hand held) with stripes and loops depend on the rank of the wearer;
- white gloves
| Field of graduation | Colour name | Colour aspect |
|---|---|---|
| Divinity (and all high officials regardless of the field) | Violet (Purple, specifically the Royal Purple shade) | |
| Law (colour also worn by high magistrates) | Écarlate (Scarlet) | |
| Medicine (and health-related fields) | Groseille (Redcurrant, a reddish shade of pink) | |
| Science (exact and experimental) | Amaranthe (Amaranth) | |
| Arts, literature, philosophy, humanities | Jonquille (Daffodil, a shade of yellow) |
For science faculties: amaranth silk dress, gown in black silk flap batiste, silk shoes in amaranth with three rows of ermine, ribbon belt with fringed amaranth and amaranth cables in silk hat in amaranth silk with a lace Golden;
- Small suit: black muslin dress with lapel crimson silk gown and black silk.
Post XIX - Anatomy
Hello everyone, I am Amaranth.
You probably never heard my name before. And if you have, I'm pretty sure you think you can eat me. That's not true though. You can eat something produced by my mother, the Amaranth plant. She's beautiful and brightful and that's where I get my name from. I'm actually a color, nice to meet you! The same way I got my name from my mom, my color is in honor of her as well. Even though I was born in the English language in 1690, not many people know about my existence so I'm going to explain you my anatomy based on people's senses, hope you are interested.
If you want to create me from scratch, with your own hands, using your touch sense I can be reached starting with the primary color red (paint) and being added to that a bit of black depending on the shade you want to achieve. I'm so eclectic that once you get to this mixture you can create the variations you like: if you want me to be lighter, add some blue; if you want me to be darker, add some yellow.
Even though it's super easy to create me, it's not that easy to see me (at least that's what scientists say, but I'm pretty much every where, you just have to pay attention!!) The color is assimilated by the human body through the vision, which is the sense that takes the information more quickly to the brain. By that means, that it has an immediate stimulus and the color will lead to various reactions on the observer (positive or negative).
The amaranth color can be seen when the red-sensitive cones of our eyes are activated, together with some of the green and the blue, generating the pink colors.
The pink shades
On the taste sense and on the smell senses, I like to think about myself according to my origins. As I said before, I come from a flower, so my smell is very delicate and flowery. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a field full of amaranth flowers, isn't it peaceful and mind opening? Ok, so this flowers are also going to give you lunch, because that's how we like to be, we like to fulfill all your needs. We also thing about your healthy, so don't worry you'll be receiving a lot of nutrients and no fat!!
And I think that's all folks. I hope you got to understand a bit more about me and please look around for me I'm really looking forward to meeting you more often!
You probably never heard my name before. And if you have, I'm pretty sure you think you can eat me. That's not true though. You can eat something produced by my mother, the Amaranth plant. She's beautiful and brightful and that's where I get my name from. I'm actually a color, nice to meet you! The same way I got my name from my mom, my color is in honor of her as well. Even though I was born in the English language in 1690, not many people know about my existence so I'm going to explain you my anatomy based on people's senses, hope you are interested.
If you want to create me from scratch, with your own hands, using your touch sense I can be reached starting with the primary color red (paint) and being added to that a bit of black depending on the shade you want to achieve. I'm so eclectic that once you get to this mixture you can create the variations you like: if you want me to be lighter, add some blue; if you want me to be darker, add some yellow.
Even though it's super easy to create me, it's not that easy to see me (at least that's what scientists say, but I'm pretty much every where, you just have to pay attention!!) The color is assimilated by the human body through the vision, which is the sense that takes the information more quickly to the brain. By that means, that it has an immediate stimulus and the color will lead to various reactions on the observer (positive or negative).
The amaranth color can be seen when the red-sensitive cones of our eyes are activated, together with some of the green and the blue, generating the pink colors.
The pink shades
- Bright pinks, like the color red, stimulate energy and can increase the blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat, and pulse rate.
- They also encourage action and confidence.
- Pink has been used in prison holding cells to effectively reduce erratic behavior.
On the taste sense and on the smell senses, I like to think about myself according to my origins. As I said before, I come from a flower, so my smell is very delicate and flowery. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a field full of amaranth flowers, isn't it peaceful and mind opening? Ok, so this flowers are also going to give you lunch, because that's how we like to be, we like to fulfill all your needs. We also thing about your healthy, so don't worry you'll be receiving a lot of nutrients and no fat!!
And I think that's all folks. I hope you got to understand a bit more about me and please look around for me I'm really looking forward to meeting you more often!
Monday, November 21, 2016
Post XVIII - Painting
“… repulsively real ballet girls [but] magnificently brushed in.”
Anonymous
The chosen painting is denominated as Dancers in Pink by Edgar Degas. Degas is often associated with images of ballerinas in various stages of relaxation, preparation and dance. In this painting, none of the dancers are looking at the viewer, making it clear that the interlocutor is getting inside of the ballerina's world, they're just visitors and cannot interrupt.
Dancers in Pink
Edgar Degas
1880-1885
Oil on Canvas
Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington, CT
Edgar Degas
1880-1885
Oil on Canvas
Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington, CT
The brush strokes on the tutus make them look soft and sweeping. Their dresses are in a pinkish-amaranth color making them full of weight. Degas represented poor young girls that struggled to become the fairies, nymphs and queens of the stage.
Post XVII - Patents
Blood Gas Control - US4001142A
Publication Date - 1977-01-04
Inventor - James E. Turner, United States of America
This patent is about a packaged and convenient trilevel control system for monitoring laboratory measurement of pH, Po2, and Pco2 with blood gas analyzing instruments. The object of this invention is to prepare a stable, aqueous solution possessing chemically significant values for pH, partial pressure of oxygen (Po2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (Pco2) and bicarbonte concentration [HCO3 -] to be used as a control for monitoring instruments that measure these parameters. In simplest terms, what is disclosed is a satisfactory, color coded liquid control for pH, Po2, and Pco2 at three levels (alkalosis, acidosis, normal) free of all proteins. The three controls, in ready to use liquid form, are formulated to simulate physiological levels over the clinically significant range of acid base respiratory balance and function.
The liquid blood gas control of this invention is thus designed to react in like manner as blood. Whatever parameters may effect whole blood readings in the blood gas instrument, will also effect similar changes in the control. If a human error or mechanical error exists which effects the pH, Po2, or Pco2 of the blood, that error will also effect the blood gas control since both systems are the same. Another problem that was encountered in the development of the liquid blood gas control of this invention was the instability of certain dyes on exposure to direct sunlight. This was particularly true of several blue and red dyes tested for use in the alkalosis and acidosis controls. The instability of the dye was also accompanied by a decrease in the Po2 value. Apparently a light catalyzed oxidation was occurring which did not take place at a detectable rate in the dark. This problem was solved by the careful selection of suitable dyes for all three control levels.
Publication Date - 1977-01-04
Inventor - James E. Turner, United States of America
This patent is about a packaged and convenient trilevel control system for monitoring laboratory measurement of pH, Po2, and Pco2 with blood gas analyzing instruments. The object of this invention is to prepare a stable, aqueous solution possessing chemically significant values for pH, partial pressure of oxygen (Po2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (Pco2) and bicarbonte concentration [HCO3 -] to be used as a control for monitoring instruments that measure these parameters. In simplest terms, what is disclosed is a satisfactory, color coded liquid control for pH, Po2, and Pco2 at three levels (alkalosis, acidosis, normal) free of all proteins. The three controls, in ready to use liquid form, are formulated to simulate physiological levels over the clinically significant range of acid base respiratory balance and function.
One purpose for which the dyes were added to the control was to afford a visual discrimination between the various control ampuls. To agree with conventional acid base litmus color standards, a preferred color of the normal control would be yellow, for the acidosis the color control would be red, and for the alkalosis, the color control would be blue.
The dyes selected as showing the greatest amount of stability within this liquid gas control system were F, D and C yellow, amaranth al lake, and alphazurine FG dyes. The yellow dye which is the trisodium salt of 5-oxo-1-(p-sulfophenyl)-4-[(p-sulfophenyl)azo]-2-pyrazoline-3-carboxylic acid, was found to be chemically stable in all levels of the standard. The amaranth dye was used to give the red color to the acidosis control. The alphazurine dye was used to yield the blue color in the alkalosis control.
Step XVI - In Design
The design I chose to talk about is made by Karim Rashid, an industrial designer who has created
almost every piece of home equipment there is to design, from a salt shaker to sofas
and light fixtures. He is also an architect, a decorator, a lecturer, a writer, an artist,
even a fashion designer, and a DJ. Rashid is also famous for
turning pink into a manly color. He often
chooses to wear it himself and his style
of clothing is throughout to the last detail.
Kouple Bathtub and Sink is set designed for the bathroom environment. Their design blend modern technology and aesthetic appearance. Even though they are part of the same collection, they are sold separately by the same producer, Saturn Bath Co. Founded in 1990, Saturn is a South Korean based company that produces acrylic bathtubs exclusively, with over 100,000 bathtubs produced every year. The company is a specialist in manufacturing bathroom cabinets, shower booths, bidet, system furniture and other bathroom furniture.
Double cavity bathtub with ergonomic seating comfort
Size _ 1,700 x 1,000 x 525 mm
Material _ Liquid Acrylic Resin, Cast
Designed by Karim Rashid
Produced by Saturn Co., Ltd.
The bathtub shape is inspired in a waterdrop letting the natural curved line complete the design with harmony. It's made of liquid acrylic resin (LAR). LAR is known for its antibacterial qualities, durability, high gloss and rich texture.
Wall mounted double sink
Flat surface with curved bottom and basins
Size _ 1,150 x 500 x 215 mm
Material _ Liquid Acrylic Resin, Cast
Designed by Karim Rashid
Produced by Saturn Co., Ltd.
The Kouple bathtub can also be paired with a matching Kouple sink, which mimics the shape of the tub with two faucets installed being designed for two people and, of course, is in Rashid's signature pink.
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Post XV - Advertisement
Chesterfield Ad - 1940's
Heinz Ad - 1910
Camels Ad - 1900's
Câline Ad, Perfume Jean Patou - 1960
Bitter Campari Ad - 1924
Dove Ad - 1958
Post XIV - Chemistry
The Amaranth color can be found in chemistry as a sulfonic acid-based naphthylazo dye for food, medicine or to color cosmetics. In 1796, many countries, such as the United States of America, Austria, Russia, and Norway, prohibited its use due to the possibility of E123 being carcinogenic. It's still legal in other countries, like England that uses it to give the bright color to their cherries.
As a food additive it has E number E123.
E123 gives products a red / purple colouration and is highly soluble in water - making it useful as a dye in photography. E123 is often used in wines and spirits.
Chemical Formula C20H11N2Na3O10S3
Molar Mass 604.47305
Melting Point 120 °C
A similar color can be found in Azorubine or Carmoisine, E number E122. It is a synthetic red food dye from the azo dye group and it tends to be used in fermented foods that require treatment by heat. Like Amaranth dye, it was also banned from some countries because it's believed to worsen asthma and hyperactivity in children and to cause allergic reactions to those allergic to aspirin.
Chemical Formula C20H12N2Na2O7S2
Molar Mass 502.44
Melting Point >300 °C
Solubility in Water Soluble (120g/l)
As a food additive it has E number E123.
E123 gives products a red / purple colouration and is highly soluble in water - making it useful as a dye in photography. E123 is often used in wines and spirits.
Chemical Formula C20H11N2Na3O10S3
Molar Mass 604.47305
Melting Point 120 °C
A similar color can be found in Azorubine or Carmoisine, E number E122. It is a synthetic red food dye from the azo dye group and it tends to be used in fermented foods that require treatment by heat. Like Amaranth dye, it was also banned from some countries because it's believed to worsen asthma and hyperactivity in children and to cause allergic reactions to those allergic to aspirin.
Chemical Formula C20H12N2Na2O7S2
Molar Mass 502.44
Melting Point >300 °C
Solubility in Water Soluble (120g/l)
Friday, November 11, 2016
Post XIII - Comics
Writer: Hine, David
Artist: Braithwaite, Doug
Cover Artist: Braithwaite, Doug
Artist: Braithwaite, Doug
Cover Artist: Braithwaite, Doug
Storm Dogs : when a crime team arrives on the planet of Amaranth to investigate a series of mysterious deaths, they begin to discover secrets that could unravel the fabric of the universe. With elements of westerns, mysteries, and political thrillers, this critically-acclaimed series is far more than just 'CSI in Space.'
Post XII - Culinary
Amaranth is one of those rare plants whose leaves are eaten as a vegetable while the seeds are used as cereals. The red dye from amaranth leaves is used to color alcoholic beverages in Bolivia (chicha) and northwestern Argentina, to color maize dough in Mexico and the southwestern United States, and to dye foods and beverages in Ecuador.
Raspberry derives its name from raspise, "a sweet rose-colored wine". The name may have been influenced by its appearance as having a rough surface related to Old English rasp or "rough berry". Raspberries are usually planted on winter and even though the most known color of it is pink/red, they can also be black, purple or yellow. These fruits contain more vitamin C than oranges, are super high in fibre, low in calories and supply you with a good dose of folic acid.
Cherry derives its name from the Latin cerasum, which referred to a Greek region (todays Giresun, Turkey) from which cherries were first thought to be exported to Europe. Cherries are native to Eastern Europe and Asia Minor regions. Cherries are one of the very low calorie fruits. Nonetheless, they are rich source of phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
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