Sensational Culinary Chromatics

Dong Zhenxiang is a master chef in China, and is often referred to as Da Dong (Master Dong). Dong Zhenxiang has formulated his own unique concept of "Culinary Chromatics." He conducted a systematic study on the relationship between cuisine and color, and integrated color, aroma, shape, and tableware with a sense of taste. In doing so, he extended the artistry of cooking from the realm of taste alone to the presentation of color as well. 

Like taste, colors can also create a physical sensation with one's sense of smell. These associations often have much to do with an individual's personal life experiences. When smelling the light fragrance of jasmine, one could envision the color white; where the sweet smell of bananas or lemons might conjure up the color yellow. Meanwhile, smelling milk could cause you to think of, unsurprisingly, a milky white color. 

When we see a color, we usually associate it with a certain object or scenario that is invoked from within our own imagination. This process is called color association.

Red is exceptionally eye-catching. It conveys emotions like passion, desire, and ambition. It therefore can easily stir up one's emotions. Red is also a symbol of sun and flames, so it embodies rather intense concepts such as vigor, ardor, and excitement.

Not only is it a warm color, but it is one of the most bold colors out there. As a result, it also carries some negative connotations such as rage and aggressiveness.

Orange is an intermediary color between red and yellow. Its effects are subsequently a mixture of the two. It brings out positive feelings such as happiness and joy, and also increases appetite.

Due to its association with vitamins and vitality, it goes well with themes like health and sports.

Green is a healing color. Like the sprouts in spring, it is bursting with hope and vitality. Owing to its comparatively subdued visual stimulation, it gives people an impression of safety and security, which subsequently makes them feel at ease.

Purple is half-way between a warm and cold color, and its low brightness tends to impose negative psychological impressions. Unlike yellow, shades of purple are not found in many other colors. Having said this, it does come in many shaded variations.

Adding a touch of white to dark purple will mellow out the color and make it more elegant. Increasing the amount of white will produce a variety of shades of light purple, each of which possesses a beguiling beauty.

Color harmony refers to combining colors in a way that maximizes their esthetic appeal. There are no strict esthetic criteria for any single color. The process very much resembles notes in a musical composition. No single note is "good" or "bad." Only when two or more colors collide can an esthetic judgment be passed. 

Bringing together colors of the same hue but with varied brightness and purity. Sunsets and snow-laden peach blossoms are both examples of this form of color matching. This method of color combination emphasizes simplicity, harmony, and purity. It is the simplest, most widely-adopted, and most effective method of color matching.

A color's brightness is a measurement of its emotion. This color matching method involves pairing colors that are on the same plane of the color solid. The colors of one plane only differ in hue and purity. Their same brightness results in a harmonious combination.

A color's purity determines how appealing an image is. This method involves matching colors of the same purity but with different hues on the color solid.

Matching colors of high purity makes for visually harmonious compositions. 
Feelings: active, intense, impulsive, outgoing, happy, clever, lively. It has a strong effect on visual sensation and emotion. 
Mouthfeels: intense, syrupy sweet. Foods associated with high purity: most fruits and fresh cauliflower.

In color matching, one can use a slight contrast color to create a highlight and make the entire composition more visually appealing. These are called accent colors.

This color matching method brings together colors that have gradual changes in all three elements. It has a strong sense of order and rhythm.

When it comes to color matching, nature doesn't make mistakes. In nature, whether it's animals or landscapes, we can find balanced color combinations all around us. This kaleidoscopic presentation of bright, vivid colors is well coordinated and accompanied by complementary contrasting colors. At the same time, these lively colors are almost always embedded in solid, stable colors of low saturation.

This method involves combining two or more colors to form a color unit, which is then used repeatedly. Color matching which uses repetition features intense and obvious rhythmic patterns in order to avoid any monotony or tedium.

Winter jasmine and rape flowers also bloom in early spring. These tender yellow flowers, together with yellowish-green grass and trees, construct a bright composition that is the most captivating view in all of nature.

There exists a strong contrast in the combination of these bright colors, which exhibit a unique chromatic effect thanks to the abundance of available light. Colors in this area, due to their high saturation, coordinate well with achromatic tableware, which helps dilute or eliminate any potential visual fatigue.

When you are immersed in those autumnal landscapes, your eyes will be overwhelmed by the continuously shifting presentation of dazzling and harmonious colors in abundance.

Winter resembles entering a serene and crystalline fairy tale world. An all-encompassing layer of white snow covers the landscape, making it feel as if the entire world is in a deep slumber while encased in a flurry of white and silver. Such a magical sight lulls people into a state of calm.