What do you think about people saying it's not an actual rainbow but a tv color test because the colors' order is different?
I’m making a circuitous post about art— I have a few thoughts about it but in general I agree with @larents’ post.
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I made this post about Louis’ choice of artist and location yesterday.
The artist, Jay Kaes, answered an interview question about the use of multicolors: The use of multicolors, which is what was done in the mural of the building of Carlos Picabea, has to do with integration and tolerance...
Looking at Jay’s art, I see specific instances when color is used in a rainbow spectrum, when it is used (as in Louis’ art) in a non-rainbow spectrum, and when there is multicolors without any implication of the spectrum.
Rainbow:
Non-rainbow spectrum:
Multicolors without a spectrum:
Now compare these murals with Louis’ :
Like you say, the colors are not a true rainbow. They are similar to non-rainbow spectrums that Jay has done, and incorporate the black and white lines that he’s done in the other art. Let’s take a closer look at Louis’ face.
The use of color around Louis’ face is subtle— the multicolors are not overwhelming, but they frame him, as do the black and white lines. The multiple colors and the idea of a spectrum are subtle but unmistakable.
The effect of the framing is to zoom our attention to his face. Check out the use of color and lines on the other artwork— they also draw attention to the most expressive part of the faces.
The color spectrum around Louis’ face is separated by black and white lines. The lines are suggestive of piano keys and prison bars: both evocative of Louis’ personal history, as well as the semantics behind Walls. What the visual design allows us to do is use our imagination to extend the portrait outward. The drawing itself doesn’t end at the black and white lines. As @currently-amazing pointed out to me yesterday, Louis’ lower lip and beard visually extend under the black and white bars. We can see a trace outline of his lip and the barbs of his beard. Underneath the prison bars, the same Louis that was always there is still there. He is still there. Do you see how the blue color above and below Louis also follow his portrait? On top, blue follows the shape of his hair, and on the bottom, his collar. Beyond the color spectrum on top, we see an outline of his hair again. The “blue” and the color spectrum are not separate from him, and neither are the black and white bars: they are part of him.
@currently-amazing directed me to this sculpture of Nelson Mandela by Marco Cianfanelli in South Africa, erected 50 years later at the place where he was arrested by apartheid police.
The sculpture is made from 50 separate metal posts, and looks like this from close up:
A certain perspective is needed to see the entire sculpture:
A certain perspective is also necessary to see Louis’ art entirely. Both the art and the intentions behind the art are beautifully layered, with brilliant sophistication.
Louis’ art is an advertisement for his album, but the album itself is a declaration— a rebellion, one might even say— against the mold that he has been cast in.
Louis’ public persona is often depicted by media as narrow-minded, homophobic, unintelligent, from a lower socioeconomic class, uncultured, drunken/ slovenly/ vulgar/ drug-using (“headlines I can’t stand”). He is often contrasted with other boys from the band in this fashion, and his own PR (Simon Jones PR, Syco PR) has done little to counter the image.
However, from Louis’ choice of media (free livestream) to his choice of artist, to the selection of location (Brick Lane), to the depiction of the art (rendered from Ryan Saradjola’s photo but with key modifications), to his brilliant choice of album title, to the titles of each song, and to the song lyrics themselves, Louis is meticulous in refuting this image and reclaiming his own tolerance and representation, with his trademark humor and humanity.
So I would say the art is about much more than a “true rainbow” or Louis’ sexuality, although that’s a part of it. I know fans want him to pick up a rainbow flag on stage, but I hope I’ve made the point that that is a very narrow way to view what Louis has done with his career and his presentation.
The multicolor artwork falls into the many ways Louis has shown his support for tolerance and identification with Pride in the past— too many to count. The choice is consistently toward tolerance, for LGBT support and identification, but done in ways that are subtle and plausibly deniable. It is always done with true love and without shame.
Louis’ choices show his perfectionism and complexity as a creative artist, his intelligence and self-awareness. He is in control of his own destiny and communicates love on his journey. His message is one of tolerance and inclusion, and — make no mistake— of pride. In every important way.