Imagine the blue of a desert sky, the rich greens and browns of an old-growth forest, the rainbow hues in a bowl of tropical fruit -- and you can appreciate how diminished our world would be without color. But as you contemplate the wonder of color, the characteristics of differing wavelengths of light and the different absorbent and reflective qualities of pigments are not likely to cross your mind. Generally, people experience color, but they do not understand it.
There are, however, exceptions. Take the people at Colorium, a new gallery located in Tokyo's smart Omotesando district. Opened last month, the 40-sq.-meter art space is the brainchild of Heart and Color, an organization involved in teaching and researching into color therapy. Among its activities, Heart and Color runs adults' and children's color workshops; consults on the effects of different color schemes for public buildings, such as hospitals and welfare centers; and operates a doodle-friendly cafe, adjacent to Colorium, where the menu includes not only tea and cakes, but also color pencils and sketch pads.
Colorium is an airy and pleasant enough space by Tokyo standards. The current exhibition, "Hommage a Niki de Saint Phalle," features photographs by Michiko Matsumoto.