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

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.

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. 

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     C₂₀H₁₁N₂Na₃O₁₀S<sub>3

Molar Mass</sub>                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    C₂₀H₁₂N₂Na₂O₇S<sub>2

Molar Mass</sub>               502.44

Melting Point           >300 °C

Solubility in Water   Soluble (120g/l)

Post XIII - Comics

Writer: Hine, David
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 a food that is believed to have been consumed for a long time, but only recently has started to be present in the European/American life style, due to recent discovers about its use back in the time. It's believed that Amaranth was present in the basin of the Mediterranean time of the Greeks and Romans, but it isn't confirmed that it is the same plant of our days from a genetic point of view. Amaranth was also a part of the Mayan and Aztec daily diet who ate even the leaves. With the grains of amaranth they was also prepared a nutritious drink called Atole amaranth.


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.

Post XI - Document

The Amaranth color is mentioned in an Italian newspaper, Regio Delle Due Sicilie, Naples, 30th of March, 1811.

The book Amaranth: Modern Prospects for an Ancient Crop, 1984 talks about the importance of Amaranth grains to pre-columbian people, such as in their alimentation or rituals and beliefs. 

Aesop's Fables, sixth century b.C. - "The Rose and the Amaranth"

A Rose and an Amaranth blossomed side by side in a garden,

and the Amaranth said to her neighbour,

"How I envy you your beauty and your sweet scent!

No wonder you are such a universal favourite."

But the Rose replied with a shade of sadness in her voice,

"Ah, my dear friend, I bloom but for a time:

my petals soon wither and fall, and then I die.

But your flowers never fade, even if they are cut;

for they are everlasting."

John Milton's poem Paradise Lost (1667), Amaranth as a symbol of immortality

"Immortal amarant, a flower which once

In paradise, fast by the tree of life,

Began to bloom; but soon for man's offence

To heaven removed, where first it grew, there grows,

And flowers aloft, shading the fount of life,

And where the river of bliss through midst of heaven

Rolls o'er elysian flowers her amber stream:

With these that never fade the spirits elect

Bind their resplendent locks."

Plinio il Vecchio, speaks of amaranth in the "Naturalis Historia" by referring to the fact that the plant never withers and the flowers can be collected and maintained for a long time in the water.

Literature:

Amaranth is the name of the otherworldly pantheon that amuses itself by toying with individuals' luck in Tim Lebbon's novel "The Unfortunate".

"Love-Lies-Bleeding" (a poetic name for the amaranth flower) is the title of a 2005 play by Don DeLillo.

In Orson Scott Card's novel "Speaker for the Dead", amaranth is the only grass in the limited ecosystem of the planet Lusitania.

In the novel "To Live Forever" by Jack Vance, the members of the Amaranth Society have achieved immortality.

                                           

                                           

In Garth Nix's novel Abhorsen, the third chapter is entitled "Amaranth, Rosemary and Tears".

Post X - Logo

The logo I chose to represent the color Amaranth is from a Victoria's Secret lingerie line directed to younger women, PINK. As said in previous posts, the shades of pink are usually used to represent delicacy and feminine. Victoria's Secret being a brand that sells underwear, sleepwear, accessories and other stuff for women, both the shop and the color chosen to represent it are communicating these aspects. The logo consists in the outline of the word PINK in a slab serif typeface font, followed by the name of the main brand underneath. 

Other logos with Amaranth: 

The LG's logo sums up the slogan the brand stands for: Life's Good. The symbol mark is formed by two elements: the logo in grey and the pink-ish image next to it. The elements together create a face with the letter L and G representing the ideals of the brand above everything else. The color on the back represents friendliness, and also gives a strong impression of LG's commitment to deliver the best.

Italian football teams:

Roma football club uses the same shade of pink that, together with a shade of yellow, are the official colors of the city of Rome. 

Reggina Calcio

Associazione Sportiva Livorno Calcio