Colour me right

Artists and therapists have long known how colours can dramatically affect the mood. Besides the age-old scientific explanation that as white light passes through a prism it separates into some visible colours, we do not know much about the formation or structure of colours. All we know is that some colours please us while some do not, though it must be admitted that colour preferences and prejudices depend on individual personalities too.

Why is colour such a powerful force in our lives? What effect can it have on  us physically and psychologically?

In ancient China and Egypt, colours were extracted from flowers as they were believed to have magical properties to heal and even attract someone by casting a spell. Widely known as Chromo therapy it is still used in alternative or holistic treatment to heal or treat individuals suffering from stress.

Personal grooming institutes give a special place to colour .Image management centres and image consultants study a person’s penchant for leadership and  confidence and if deficient in strong personality traits,they recommend use of power colours like red and black . If they detect stress, they recommend cool shades.

Human emotion reacts to different colours instinctively. These days in schools corrections in exercise books, traditionally  done in red ink, have now been replaced by green. “Red signifies danger and a child gets upset, breathless and causes stress,” says Kirti Agarwalla, a counsellor with a reputed school in south Kolkata .

Coming to interiors, the story is similar. A bright splash of colour in a room signifies freedom from limited space because it stands for openness, liberation and spontaneity. Kitsch art, in vogue today, also signifies changing times symbolising liberation. In the mid-50s when kitsch art made an appearance, it was seen as rebellion against a rigidly defined style or taste of the day. “This is an art where colours play riot and thereby balance all the senses,” feels Shanta Duruvila, a consultant psychologist from Kerala. She loves using broken bangles, conch shells etc to create bright wall hanging as she believes that a combination of colours can cheer you up and encourage self-motivation.

Students of art at the very outset are introduced to a  colour chart  i.e. the red area in the spectrum comprising red, orange and yellow is  known as warm colour zone  evoking emotions ranging from warmth and comfort to anger and hostility.

The blue area is ‘cool’, the colour of the ocean and sky, it is associated with tranquility and peace. This colour is believed to soothe illness and treat pain;  neon lights are used especially at night for patients to soothe and induce sleep. But blue  can also express sadness or indifference. Hence perhaps the expression ‘feeling blue’. This zone also includes purple and green too

In the western world colour can be gender-specific too. Traditionally, pink is for baby girls while blue is for boys. Some food items are partial to colours like red, brown, and green and used extensively in curries, sauces and garnishes because they are supposed to stimulate appetite.
It is interesting to know that colours can determine the behaviour of people and can have an impact on the administrative aspects of an organization by way of impacting consumer satisfaction, labour productivity , road safety, obsessive and  criminal inclinations in people. Research is still on to determine colour induced behaviour.

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The mood creators

● Red stimulates and increases blood circulation but can also lead to sleeplessness. Children taking exams should avoid being exposed to red. It works better with sportspersons filling them with passion and energy.
●Yellow stimulates the nerves and purifies the body. A cheerful colour but too much of it can excite a person, especially smaller children
● Orange heals the lungs and increases energy levels. Saints wear orange robes and most of the vitamin pills come in orange colour.

● Blue, the tranquil colour, is often used in gyms. Blue in different shades is also extensively in bedrooms.

● Black symbolises authority and power. Wearing black is a style statement and makes a person look slimmer.
● White  stands for purity and innocence. In western countries brides wear white to symbolise innocence and purity. However, white is a bad absorber of heat and is not recommended for winter wear.
● Green, colour of the nature, stands for relaxation and fertility. Hospitals use green extensively.
● Purple is the colour of royalty denoting luxury, wealth, and sophistication. Roman aristocracy preferred this colour for their clothes.
● Brown, the earth colour,  means down- to- earth and being rooted.