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Ever wanted to walk through a library that housed thousands of colour swatches instead of books? Immersing your senses in an eye-catching cornucopia of vivid hues? Suchi Reddy of New York-based architecture, design and public art studio Reddymade has managed to turn that thought into reality with her latest art installation for Asian Paints.
The possibilities of Chromacosm
Understanding the design world’s demand for a comprehensive yet cohesive colour directory, Asian Paints has developed an innovative system that combines algorithmic precision with visual organisation. With over 5,300 shades meticulously arranged by hue and depth, Chromacosm stands out for its unique ability to showcase the full spectrum—from the lightest to the deepest tones in intensity and saturation. “This repository offers a level of precision and variety that has never been seen before,” says Amit Syngle, MD and CEO, Asian Paints. “This will revolutionise the way architects and designers approach colour selection,” he adds.
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Colours speak louder than words
Recently unveiled at the Snowball Studios in Mumbai, Chromacosm, the installation is a companion to Chromacosm, the milestone-marking colour system. The exhibit is an exercise in exploration, featuring a series of cylindrical structures that transition from black to a symphony of vibrant colours. These rods are punctuated by white bands—a theme that runs throughout the installation. “It references the coming together of all colours, which in paint, becomes black and in light becomes white,” says Suchi Reddy. “The viewer is invited to walk through and around a forest of vertical reeds experiencing over 2,000 shades that emerge and recede back to black,” she adds. This turns colour into a tangible, three-dimensional experience, inviting viewers to deeply explore the potential of Chromacosm—what it already is and what it can possibly become.
A cosmic connection
When tasked with the challenge of putting together this impressive, gargantuan piece, Reddy took an almost meditative approach. “Inspired by ancient tantric paintings, Chromacosm is an experiential journey through the cosmos of colour,” says Reddy. “This is a field of black through which colour emerges and the order and the randomness of the universe can be represented by walking through this maze,” she adds. Colour is both static and fluid, finite and infinite. It can make you feel happy and sad. It is very technical but still very accessible. How does one make the viewer understand this dichotomy? We might finally have an answer.
Chromacosm—the installation will be on display for public viewing at the Architecture and Design Film Festival at NCPA, Mumbai from January 9 to 12, 2025. It will then travel to Delhi to be exhibited during the India Art Fair in February 2025.
