What is it about Klein Blue?
Today, I’m going to talk about colour, specifically Yves Klein's Cobalt Blue.
Phaidon once wrote about Klein that 'he demanded active viewer engagement, wanting each observer to be immersed, even impregnated, with colour, experiencing and internalising its effects'.
So why is Yves Klein blue so impactful?
1. Saliency (how it stands out to grab our attention)
Klein blue has an intense saturation and purity. This combination creates high contrast with its surroundings - commanding the attention of our visual system which is predisposed to prioritise and focus on elements that stand out from their environment. Its vibrancy and vividness drives visual saliency making it almost impossible to ignore, driving attention and engagement.
2. Sensory Immersion and Emotion
The deep intense hue of cobalt blue produces a strong emotional response because it's an all-encompassing assault on our senses. This is not only unique due to the powder that he used but also due to the process by which he allowed it to be seen properly for the first time - almost making it artificial in its colour.
The history and science of Klein’s visual originality:
Klein aimed to preserve the intensity of the original powder - ultramarine. His challenge was that raw pigment needs a binder to become paint, and mixing the powder with oils darkens and dulls the colour.
By consulting a series of chemists, Klein preserved this unique colour by patenting an artificial binding mechanism which suspended the pigment. This invention preserved the luminosity and intensity of the colour by using long chain molecules that enfold the pigment whilst not smothering the individual particles.
So yes, there is a reason why standing in front of a 10 foot high Yves Klein of pure cobalt blue can make people feel intensely strong emotion - it peaks visual saliency and is all encompassing on the senses. It is unique and your brain notices this.
Sources cited in the comments below.
What was it with Yves Klein and Blue - Phaidon
All you need to know about the international Klein Blue - Widewalls
Neurodesign - Darren Bridger, 2019
