Dolce & Gabbana called its new fragrance Light Blue. And JWT, the advertising and marketing company, just named blue as one of the top 10 trends for 2008, saying that 'blue is the new green,' particularly as it denotes ecological concerns.”
“The human perception of color is a complex sensory phenomenon filtered through the eyes, brain, language and multiple layers of social experience.
While shades of red (examined in the 2007 Textile Museum exhibition RED) quicken the pulse and increase blood pressure, blue induces a calming effect and is widely perceived as a 'cool,' tranquil color,” said Lee Talbot, cocurator of BLUE.
Until the invention of chemical dyes in the late 19th century, peoples worldwide relied largely on indigo-bearing plants to achieve blue-colored garments, household furnishings, artworks and even body paint.
Many cultures attributed talismanic properties as well as health benefits to indigo, and the mysterious transformation of this temperamental dye has long been steeped in myth and magic.
The exhibition features blue textiles ranging from Greco-Roman and pre-Columbian tunic fragments drawn from The Textile Museum's internationally renowned collection as well as installations by internationally celebrated artists.