Into the cosmos

MANILA, Philippines -  It’s been a few weeks since the 2018 Pantone color of the year was announced, yet the selection of Pantone 18-3838, a.k.a Ultra Violet, still baffles most of us. Not that we’re banking on it to fix all the problems 2017 gave us, but the yearly selection has always been a notable cultural moment. It’s known to drive trends in fields like fashion, design, and architecture. That, and it’s also an interesting jumping-off point for small talk. Think about it: Is it because we’re all suddenly obsessed with astrology now? (It’s okay, we don’t judge.) Is our fave ube actually pushing its hidden agenda of taking over this matcha-fied world? So many questions.

But one thing is for sure: Ultra Violet is not purple. While they’re both a mix of blue and red, Ultra Violet is a more blue-toned shade than the latter. Don’t even think of saying that it reminds you of Purple Rain. The late Prince deserves his own Pantone color, and it’s aptly called Love Symbol #2. A quick Google search will also lead you to associations with other musical icons such as David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix, and in the art world, it brings to mind the Fauvism movement. In general, the color is also associated with things like wealth, power and royalty.

But whether you like it or not, you’re gonna see a lot of Ultra Violet, at least for this year. This shade screams celestial, but its reach extends beyond astrology. Think: exploration, complexity and limitlessness. The color of the year has a dark and cool undertone, but the themes that surround it cast a light, or at least ignite a much-needed spark. From the mess that was 2016, coming into 2017 was all about bracing for the worse — and then some. It was a crawl ’til the very end, but the mini victories were legit breakthroughs. Surely there’s nowhere else to go but up, right? That’s the spirit of the 2018 Pantone color of the year.

Though, looking at how things are right now, the positivity one seeks in this color seems more like a fantasy than a reality. But according to Pantone Color Institute’s Laurie Pressman, “It’s a reflection of what’s needed in our world today.” Keyword: needed. 2018 may just have started, but Ultra Violet seems to set the tone of movement — anywhere but here, right? Hopefully, it’s towards something better. May 2018 be the year of reflection, self discovery, breaking boundaries, and harnessing positive energy. There are a lot of things beyond our control, but having hope amidst mystery never really hurt anybody. If our fave ube has a chance of actually making it, maybe so can we.