Pink is a brilliant colour – one of the rare colours with no negative affiliations, most commonly associated with feminity, sensitivity, tenderness, childhood and romance. Scientifically, pink is just the absence of green in white light, that's why you can't find pink in a rainbow (or moonbow).
"It'd be a fun exercise to give all of the cities in the world a colour – Miami would certainly be pink"
The colour pink is named after the flowers called pinks, flowering plants in the genus Dianthus and was first used in the 17th century. Before this, there were countless uses of the word pink - in 800 BCE, Homer wrote "Then, when the child of morning, rosy-fingered dawn appeared...". The golden age of the color pink was the Rococo Period in the 18th century, when pastel colors became fashionable in all the courts of Europe. Pink was particularly championed by Madame de Pompadour who wore combinations of pale blue and pink, and had a particular tint of pink made for her by the Sevres porcelain factory, created by adding nuances of blue, black and yellow.
It'd be a fun exercise to give all of the cities in the world a colour – Miami would certainly be pink. The city is awash with varying shades from pink Cadillacs, glowing signs, American Diner interiors, shrimps and lobster, frothing milkshakes, Flamingo Park, keyrings and fridge magnets for tourists, and pink patches of sunburn. During this year's Art Basel Miami Beach, New York-based photographer Barbara Anastascio captured her favourite pink moments from the art fair itself, now its 10th year in the state; its attendees and the city itself.
Special thanks to Absolut, one of the sponsors of Art Basel
Text by Laura Bradley
