Asif Khan's Vantablack Pavilion at Pyeongchang Olympics
British architect Asif Khan has built a temporary pavilion for Hyundai at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, coated in Vantablack, the world's blackest paint that absorbs over 99% of light. The large black cube, situated near the ski slopes, creates an illusion of void and disorientation. Vantablack was developed by Surrey Nanosystems and originally used by artist Anish Kapoor under an exclusive agreement, sparking controversy over artistic monopolies. In response, artist Stuart Semple created the "pinkest pink" and barred Kapoor from using it. Kapoor defended his exclusivity by citing Yves Klein's 1960 patent of International Klein Blue.
Key facts
- Asif Khan designed a temporary pavilion for Hyundai at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
- The pavilion is coated in Vantablack, which absorbs over 99% of light.
- Vantablack was developed by Surrey Nanosystems and originally used by Anish Kapoor.
- Kapoor held an exclusive agreement to use Vantablack in art.
- Stuart Semple created the 'pinkest pink' and banned Kapoor from using it.
- Kapoor compared his exclusivity to Yves Klein's International Klein Blue patent.
- The pavilion is located near the ski slopes of Pyeongchang.
- Vantablack was originally developed by NASA for military and aerospace use.
Entities
Artists
- Asif Khan
- Anish Kapoor
- Stuart Semple
- Yves Klein
Institutions
- Hyundai
- Surrey Nanosystems
- NASA
Locations
- Pyeongchang
- South Korea
- Surrey
- United Kingdom