COLOUR SYMBOLISM Colour is used symbolically in many spheres of life. In religion, therapy and cultures it has dominated human activities. It is sometimes used in therapy to correct mental disorders and people with emotional problems. The colour blue is believed to have a calming effect that helps to lower blood pressure as well as many respiratory medical cases. Red on the other hand has the tendency to aggravate emotional imbalances. Some therapists employ green as a therapeutic element for smoothen and calming emotionally disturbed people in a state of depression. Yellow helps energize people and also relieves depression. Colour means differently to different people and cultures. People have their individual taste and likeness towards specific colours that has accounted for the varied representation of feelings and interpretations in colour symbolism. Colour is the most pervasive element of design that has significant psychological effects on our moods and emotions. Every artist, architects inclusive, need to understand the language of colour because the emotions that works of art are said to possess are actually accentuated by the presence of colour. In fact, the impact of works of art, design, and advertisements on the viewing public is conjured by the magical potency of colour. Understanding the meaning of colour is therefore an impetus for making the right decision about which colour schemes to use to make specific statements about the art works we create and also emphasize our design objectives. The colour scheme used in our works as artists can alter the message that such works are intended to send. In architecture, the tone, mood and feeling that buildings are to evoke can be achieved through appropriate use of colour. Colour helps to reach specific target audiences with the right message to elicit the desired responses. Compiled by Dr G. Y. Annum KNUST Gh page 1
GENERALLY ACCEPTED SYMBOLIC MEANINGS OF COLOUR RED (including mauve, magenta, crimson, scarlet, and poster red, vermilion) : It symbolises power, strength, romance, vitality, and energy. The colour red is seen frequently as a symbol of passion, strength, energy, fire, love, sex, excitement, infatuation, speed, heat, arrogance, ambition, anger, aggression and danger. Red is a striking and shouting colour used to draw attention because it easily catches the eyes. How the colour red affects our social lives Red increases enthusiasm and builds up courage. It stimulates energy and arouses invigorative feelings. It encourages action and confidence. Because of its domineering nature, it is an ideal colour for use on items and designs that need to grab attention. Red is a colour for arousing the amorous sentiment of Love. This is significant in valentine s day. In interior design, Red stimulates and raises the energy level in a room. Painting all the walls in a room red may be too intense. Use red as an accent colour rather than the dominate colour or as part of a wall. However, in the financial arena, the word red symbolizes a negative direction. ORANGE Happiness, energy, balance, heat, fire, enthusiasm, flamboyance, playfulness are attributes that are symbolised by the colour orange. The colour orange is the colour of social communication and optimism. Compiled by Dr G. Y. Annum KNUST Gh page 2
It is the colour for excitement and invigoration. Orange is an exciting and energetic colour. How the colour orange affects our social lives It is the colour of happiness. Because it has less intensity than red and is calmed by the cheerfulness of yellow it is used to stimulate emotions, activity and appetite, and encourages socialization. It is therefore a good choice of colour for over-powering all manner of conditions in a room but will work very effectively in a recreational room like a fitness centre. YELLOW (including coral, orange, amber, and gold) symbolism: Yellow is a symbolic colour for energy, sunlight, warmth, cheerfulness, joy, youthfulness, imagination, joy, happiness, optimism, intelligence, idealism, cheerfulness, hope, sociability, and friendship. It is also a symbol for caution and alertness. Yellows are often associated with the following characteristics: comfortableness, friendliness, softness and tenderness, hospitability and cordiality, movement, excitement and adventure. How the colour yellow affects social life It generally activates the memory, improves concentration and brings comfort to the downhearted. It is an uplifting, energizing colour. Yellow stimulates the nervous system and the mental faculty and improves concentration, which explains why it features mostly on sticking note pads, and highlighters. It is a good choice for study room or classrooms, kitchens and bathrooms. Its characteristics of hospitability and friendliness make it appropriate colour for press kits, stationery, and shopping bags designing. Yellow is also good for any project that needs a colour to evoke the feeling of friendliness. It is used for signage and warning of danger in work situation. Compiled by Dr G. Y. Annum KNUST Gh page 3
Nonetheless, it is not a good choice for the dominate colour in a room because some people become irritated and angry in a yellow room. BLUE and PURPLE (including sky blue, ultramarine, violet, purple, and azure) BLUE This is the colour of the seas, the sky, All the attributes of peace, law and order, unity, harmony, tranquillity, calmness, serenity, coolness, gentleness, humbleness, have all been associated with the colour blue. It also symbolises maturity and wisdom of the aged. How the colour blue affects our social life In therapy, Blue invokes rest and can cause the body to produce chemicals that calms; however not all blues are serene and sedative. The brilliant blues from the burning of electrodes expresses exhilaration and dynamism. Blue is considered as a relaxing colour making it a good choice for the bedroom. It lowers blood pressure and slows down the heart rate. A soft shade of blue can be painted on all the walls of a room without adverse affects. PURPLES Purple have long been associated with royalty, magic, sensuality, mysticism, and power. Wealth and opulence have also been connoted with the colour purple. Purples are often used with feminine, rather than masculine designs. It calms the mind and nerves, offers a sense of spirituality and encourages creativity. No wander in nature: lavender, orchid, lilac, and violet flowers are often delicate and considered precious by many horticulturalists. Compiled by Dr G. Y. Annum KNUST Gh page 4
How the colour purple affects social life Purple shades give calmness to a room and are especially a nice choice for a bedroom. Purple embodies the balance of red s stimulation and blue s calmness and so it uplifts and at the same time calms the mind and nerves. GREEN (including lime, leaf green, sea green, emerald, teal, and sage) symbolism Green is the most pervasive and the dominant colour of nature that symbolises youthfulness, strength and freshness. Healthiness, restfulness calmness, fertility, dynamism, and bounteousness are also connotations of green. How the colour green affects social life Life generally depends on green for vitality. It is seen everywhere in the foliage, grass, trees, and water. It has a Soothing and Relaxing effect on our mental and physical well-being. Green conjures healing and therefore helps to alleviate depression, nervousness and anxiety. It is agreeable for nurses to don the green colour in their practice. It promotes comfort and gives a sense of relaxation and calmness. In interior design, Green can be used in any room in the home but is especially good choice for a bedroom because it can achieve sensuous and freshness of life and offer a sense of renewal, self-control and harmony. In the business world, green symbolizes growth and prosperity. WHITE White projects purity, cleanliness, neutrality, reverence, purity, holiness, sanctity, stability, trustworthiness, peace, innocence, How white affects social life Doctors, Matrons, Caterers and all workers of institutions where neatness is the watch word don white coats as a symbol of Compiled by Dr G. Y. Annum KNUST Gh page 5
cleanliness. Brides traditionally wear white gowns as a sign of purity and virginity. It helps to empty the mind of evil thoughts for fresh beginnings and promotes mental clarity. It evokes purification of thoughts or actions and encourages us to clear obstacles of filth. In interior design, the colour white can make a small room appear larger. It blends with any colour shade. It can even be used as the dominant colour or create tints of other shades of repulsive colours and make them acceptable. Rooms dominated with white bring feelings of space, airiness, purity, clarity, cleanliness, spirituality Nonetheless, white is the most difficult colour to maintain especially in homes of large families with kids and pets. It is even more challenging in communities with untarred road networks. One of the greatest disadvantage of White is its effect on the eyes. It can exert a lot of stress on the eyes, when moved from a dark or coloured environment. White can also make a room feel too stark or cold, due to the absence of warm colours. This means that in such rooms the level of lighting should be controlled to avoid excessive brightness that can be a source of damage to the eyes, BROWN Brown is the colour of our earth and is associated with all natural or organic objects. It symbolises stability, reliability, and approachability. Restfulness, Coolness and Warmth, Tranquillity, Safety, hospitability are some of the attributes of brown. How the colour brown affects us physically and mentally It is a very safe colour to use in homes of large family occupancy with many children and pets. It is the colour that can conceal stains and dirt. It is the colour that connects us with the earth and even though it Compiled by Dr G. Y. Annum KNUST Gh page 6
is closely associated with mud, a blend with yellow ochre and white presents a pleasant atmosphere of serenity. Brown is a warm and safe colour. Often the colour of our furniture, it harmonizes very well with almost any colour. Chocolate brown leather sofas, marches excellently with the natural shades of cream and white. Bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens appear quite stunning when decorated with earth colours of brown under ambient lights. Compiled by Dr G. Y. Annum KNUST Gh page 7