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ColorTherapy: Bugambilia Pink

bugamb-1.gif

Possible Match: Hot Lips 2077-30 (more below...)
Brand: Benjamin Moore

ColorTherapy will repost articles from our travelogue series for the month of August. See you in September!

I had another color epiphany on a recent trip to Puerto Vallarta. I’ve been traveling there for years, but have been looking at things anew since I started this column. Scales fell from my eyes...

 
 

Bugambilia is a bush with bright magenta flowers, and it’s everywhere. Mexico is vividly colorful, and you see color in the environment with midwinter sun, sea and flowering plants. It makes sense that nature is reflected in a cultural palette. The Huilchol people in particular use an explosive color language in their beadwork and textiles.

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I saw this color used outdoors and indoors; on walls, whole rooms and architectural details, and in decorative painting. A reader sent these photos of work by Mexican architect Luis Barragán. I wonder how we can translate this palette to a New York urban environment, or if our Los Angeles readers will enjoy this suggestion more than others. Possible color matches: Benjamin Moore Hot Lips 2077-30, Razzle Dazzle 1348; Ralph Lauren Racer Pink IB51.
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By the way, that’s Catrina in the first photo, after José Guadalupe Posada. Special thanks to my brother Scott for additional insights.

- Mark Chamberlain, interior and decorative painter

(ReEdited from 2007-02-13 - MC)

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Comments (9)

In Metro Manila, Philippines, for a while the MMDA (the department in charge of roads and highways) chief, Bayani Fernando, had road signs and railings painted magenta/fuchsia pink (his wife's favorite color). It was a welcome splash of color against the city's usual grayish atmosphere.

Is "bugambilia" a local Mexican spelling? I thought that was spelled "bougainvillea?" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougainvillea

posted by gplatypus on 2007-02-13 13:23:16

In Mexico this is the shade we call "Rosa Mexicano." I wonder if one of Ralph Lauren Paint "Island Brights" shades can match what you're looking for.

posted by volanges on 2007-02-13 13:44:13

The bugambilia flower is the bougainvillea in Spanish.. thanks Google!

posted by Sarah on 2007-02-13 14:40:41

I would recommend checking out the work of Mexican architect Luis Barragán. His use of pink (and color in general) is amazing.

For starters:

http://designmuseum.org/media/item/3856/-1/1_4Lg.jpg
http://designmuseum.org/media/item/3858/-1/1_6Lg.jpg
http://designmuseum.org/media/item/3861/-1/1_9Lg.jpg

posted by bryan.nyc on 2007-02-13 14:59:53

My parents painted the trim of their house with one of the Ralph Lauren colors and it looks pretty similiar. I don't have a good photo, but you can sort of get an idea...

Too light out:
http://www.saidalice.com/livejournal/mexicohouse2006.jpg

Too dark out:
http://www.saidalice.com/livejournal/mexicohouse.jpg

posted by saidalice on 2007-02-13 17:42:31

In spanish we call it Bugambilia.Bougainvillea is the scientific name.

posted by mina on 2007-02-13 21:08:53

Oooo, yes, Bryan.nyc! Luis Barragan! It was his use of bright blue that first amazed me. Which also brings us to Diego Rivera's blue house in Mexico, and so on. . . . I also love browsing Freida Kalo's published sketchbooks for similar color thrills.

posted by aulaire on 2007-02-14 09:49:31

You know, I have found it incredibly hard to find a pink paint that appropriately captures this hot fucshia color. I think the Ralph Lauren color mentioned by volanges is fun, but it isn't dark or deep enough. A few years ago I went through Home Depot, Loews, Duron, Benjamin Moore...I finally compromised on a Duron color that is a few shades too light. I have a Benjamin Moore color from the 2007 collection waiting to be tested...has anyone ever tried the much-ballyhooed paint-matching services offered these days?

posted by JenDC on August 28th 2007 at 6:47am
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er, yeah
I'd go with "bouganvilla" or "bougainvillea" in the title . . .

posted by guido on August 28th 2007 at 7:40am
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