Dezeen Magazine

Anish Kapoor banned from using colour-changing paint in ongoing rights war

A feud that has previously seen Anish Kapoor banned from using the "world's pinkest pink" continues, with its creator Stuart Semple now prohibiting the artist from using his new colour-changing paint.

The artists have been at war ever since Kapoor received exclusive rights to the revolutionary Vantablack pigment – said to be the blackest shade of black ever created.

In retaliation, Semple created the "pinkest pink" paint pigment and banned Kapoor from purchasing it. Now the British artist has done the same thing with his Phaze colour-changing paint.

As with all of Semple's pigments, Phaze is available to purchase from the artist's online store. However, a disclaimer states that customers must confirm the "paint will not make its way into the hands of Anish Kapoor".

They are also obliged to agree to a legal declaration that states: "You are not Anish Kapoor, you are in no way affiliated to Anish Kapoor, you are not purchasing this item on behalf of Anish Kapoor or an associate of Anish Kapoor."

Although the same precautions were taken with Semple's pink pigment, Kapoor still managed to  get his hands on it and posted a picture of his middle finger dipped in the paint to his Instagram account with the caption "Up yours #pink".

Not admitting defeat, Semple also created the "world's most glittery glitter", "the "world's greenest green" and a cherry-scented version of Vantablack.

He is also urging purchasers to sign a petition to "stop Kapoor from stealing the light and colour from his neighbours" – a reference to the artist's plans to add a roof extension to his studio in London's Camberwell.

"This whole colour war has gone too far," Semple said after Kapoor flouted his use of the Pink paint. "He's hoarding the black to make wristwatches, run off with my Pink and given everyone the finger. We've got a better black now so it's time to bury the hate."

The Phaze acrylic paint coats objects in an ultra-matt finish, and changes from a purple shade to a bright pink when exposed to temperatures above 28 degrees Celsius.

To show the effects of the paint, Semple used it to cover a model of a unicorn's head before heating it up using a hairdryer.

"Whatever you paint with Phaze will fade between the two colours at temperatures above 28 degrees centigrade," said Semple. "If you touch it, breathe on it or move it from cold to hot you'll see this incredible effect."

Anish Kapoor – the highest ranking artist on Dezeen Hot List – was born in India in 1954 and came to Britain in the 1970s. His previous works include a series of womb-like orbs in the Paris' Grand Palais and an inflatable mobile concert hall for earthquake-affected areas.