About
: Mosaic History
 The
ancient and mystical art of mosaics has seen a recent revival
around the world. Whether it's in the style of the Roman
traditionalists or the complexities of the shard method,
mosaics are popping up everywhere once again. From galleries
and museums to subway tunnels and hotel lobbies, from airports
and kitchen countertops to backyard gardens, they are adorning
both public arenas and private residences. Today's mosaic
artists still follow many of the same techniques and principles
as their predecessors did thousands of years ago. Styles
range from abstract to representational, traditional to
deco, and from the simple to the extremely complex. This
unique and original art, revered for its intricacy and beauty,
is as pleasing to create as it is to view.
The History
Called
the eternal art form by many, mosaics can be traced as far
back as the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia. There,
pebbles were used as floor coverings and as embellishments
on walls, for decoration as well as for added strength.
Remnants of mosaic pavements in the ancient gardens of China
and as far away as the Mayan ruins have also been unearthed.
Thousands of years of history surrounds mosaic art, and
its popularity today is testament to its enduring appeal.
Mosaic
as an art form first thrived during the Greco-Roman period,
from Alexander the Great until the fall of Rome. The Greeks
began cutting natural stone into small triangles, squares,
and rectangles called tesserae, replacing the pebble mosaics
originally used to cover their floors. Today, the term tesserae
describes all types of materials used to make mosaics. This
style was embraced by the Romans, who by 200 AD were beginning
to create mosaics on walls as well, with examples such as
"The Battle of Isus", depicting the famous battle of Alexander
the Great and Darius. Public buildings and common areas
were frequently adorned by the intricate and fascinating
patterns of local mosaic artists; some copied from Far Eastern
rugs, some illustrated important events in history, some
recorded their daily lives.
The
next surge came during the Byzantine era, from the 5th to
the 15th centuries. It was during this period that mosaics
reached their pinnacle of quality and excellence. No longer
confined to discrete panels, mosaics were created covering
entire walls and ceilings in buildings throughout Europe,
such as St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Many of these spectacular
creations still remain for us to marvel at today. By this
time, glass and gold tesserae were also being freely added
to the images, magnifying their luminosity and intensity
with their epic scale. Cathedrals, public buildings, royal
estates, museums, and private homes were all palettes for
the mosaic artist. By the middle of the 15th century however,
with the advent of the Renaissance, there became a renewed
interest in pictorial realism, and a rejection of the use
of gold so common at this time in mosaics. Used mainly afterward
in church decoration, mosaics increasingly began to imitate
contemporary painting.
The
Art Nouveau movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
once again rekindled the interest in mosaic art, especially
on the exteriors of buildings. Two significant artists redefined
the traditional methods of mosaic art. Antoni Gaudi, a Spanish
architect working in Barcelona, created startling new architectural
forms, many of which he covered with mosaics. Influenced
by the Moorish tradition of using glazed tile, Gaudi improvised
by adding fragments of tiles, bits and pieces of stone,
and shards of glass. In the 1930's, Raymond Eduardo Isidore,
of Chartres, France began the mosaic work that would eventually
cover every surface of his house, both inside and out, using
every shard, fragment, and piece of usable material he could
find. His neighbors called him Picassiette, which translated,
means "plate stealer". Contemporary mosaic artists have
an abundant source of traditions and inspirations from which
to draw on, allowing them to add their own personalities
and modern visions to such an ancient art, and stretch the
limits even further.
Traditional
Mosaics
Traditional
mosaics are based on the Roman and Greek methods of cutting
tile, stone and other tesserae into uniform shapes, and
then placing them onto a prepared surface to form a design.
Mosaic arrangements may be done by using either the direct
or indirect method. Using the direct method, each bit of
stone or tile is placed face up directly into a soft medium,
such as mortar. The surface remains slightly uneven, which
allows interesting light patterns to form. By using the
indirect method, the artist can create and recreate their
design on a temporary surface many times before cementing
it in place. The finished piece has a much flatter, more
uniform surface. Traditional mosaics can range from simple
geometric patterns to intricate images and designs.
Collage Mosaics
Shard
Art, also known as Bits and Pieces, or Pique Assiette, refers
to the blending of fragmented pieces of broken pottery,
buttons, china, glass, beads, and other collectibles which
are then cemented onto a base. The base the artist chooses,
as well as the combination of pieces are limited only by
the imagination of the creator. Everyday objects are transformed
into vibrant works of art; a simple lamp or mirror becomes
a finely crafted sculpture. Each shard is an artifact, reminding
us of dinners with families, treasured heirlooms, gifts
from friends, or remnants of the past. By bringing together
bits and pieces that have had other lives, and served other
purposes, modern artists can use this distinctive technique
to produce truly contemporary and unique pieces with overtones
of the past.
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