Vanta Black
An extreme black approaching total light absorption, the nothingness of the abyss
#010101rgb(1, 1, 1)hsl(0, 0%, 0%)hsv(0, 0%, 0%)cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 100%)#010101FFrgba(1, 1, 1, 1)hsla(0, 0%, 0%, 1)oklch(15.8%, 0, 90)lch(2.3%, 1.6, 214)🎨 Color Palettes
♿ WCAG Contrast Colors
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💡 Use Cases
Scientific Exhibits
Displaying the optical properties of super-black materials in science museums or labs, allowing visitors to experience a nearly vanishing sense of space.
Conceptual Art
Using super-black coatings in contemporary art installations to create visual illusions, exploring philosophical themes of existence and nothingness.
High-end Tech Products
Used in limited edition designs of flagship electronics or luxury goods, embodying the ultimate pursuit of technology through an extreme black.
Theater Stage
Applied in stage design for experimental theater to create a dramatic effect where characters appear to float within a void.
📜 Origin & History
The name Vantablack originates from a super-black material developed in 2014 by the British company Surrey NanoSystems; its name is an acronym for Vertically Aligned Nano Tube Array.
This material is composed of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes capable of absorbing 99.965% of visible light. When light enters the nanotube array, it is repeatedly reflected between the tube walls until it is almost completely absorbed.
In 2016, British artist Anish Kapoor acquired the exclusive rights to use Vantablack in the artistic field, a decision that sparked significant controversy and debate about color ownership within the art world.
In response to this monopoly, artist Stuart Semple developed several super-black paints available to everyone, notably stipulating that Kapoor himself was forbidden from purchasing them, igniting a 'color war' over artistic freedom.
Today, Vantablack has transcended the physical material itself to become a cultural symbol, representing the pursuit of the ultimate black, along with humanistic reflections on color ownership and the boundaries of creative freedom.