Singularity Black joins the battle for the “world’s blackest black”, and is available to all artists

In the latest installment to the “world’s blackest black” paint saga, a new product has joined the battle but, unlike the controversial Vantablack, any artist can use it. Singularity Black has been invented by a Massachusetts manufacturer called NanoLab, and is claimed to have the capacity to absorb almost all light, making any object painted with it appear flat.

Throwing a spanner in the works of Anish Kapoor’s exclusive rights to the other “blackest black” Vantablack, and the ongoing debate with artist Stuart Semple – who took issue with the lack of democracy in this trademark and created “the pinkest pink” for everyone but Anish to use – the company has released Singularity Black as a paint. This can be used by anyone, and has been premiered by Boston artist Jason Chase, reports Hyperallergic, in a piece named Black Iron Ursa. The artwork depicting a very black gummy bear on a rainbow-coloured wheel, will be on show at various exhibitions, where the artist and NanoLab scientists will be present.

The paint can be applied with a brush or spray gun and was developed as part of research for Nasa exploring materials that can suppress glare on equipment for space.