It might seem a slightly outlandish claim but I've been snapping examples of mosaic tiling, mostly incidental architectural embellishments (rather then feature pieces), and I am becoming convinced they can have a civilising influence.
The example above was bathed in hazy afternoon sunshine when it drew my attention with its scattering of blues and contrasting scale and qualities with the surfaces that frame it on either side. I get the impression a lot of this kind of tiling dates from a particular period when it was more fashionable and seen as a slightly exotic and long lasting form of embellishment (1950's-70's?). Now that much of it has visually receded and become part of the fabric of places, indeed is hardly noticed, it's humble 'randomised' schemes seem to exert a kind of power that speaks of quality, colour harmony and a kind of painstaking care. I've seen enough to believe that more mosaic tiling in public spaces could help save lives.
So imagine my pleasure and sense of confirmation when I came across these wonderful mosaic surfaces in the remains of the ancient Roman city of Ephesus in Turkey. Covering a vast area of public space, this tiling has a lovely organic quality with each component tile being unique in shape and the use of beautiful but subtle colour palettes laid out in simply enjoyable patterns. If it was good enough for the Romans I am sure we can borrow a bit from their seat of civilisation and inject some of that much maligned and often abused art form into out urban cityscape's for the good of humankind.
The example above was bathed in hazy afternoon sunshine when it drew my attention with its scattering of blues and contrasting scale and qualities with the surfaces that frame it on either side. I get the impression a lot of this kind of tiling dates from a particular period when it was more fashionable and seen as a slightly exotic and long lasting form of embellishment (1950's-70's?). Now that much of it has visually receded and become part of the fabric of places, indeed is hardly noticed, it's humble 'randomised' schemes seem to exert a kind of power that speaks of quality, colour harmony and a kind of painstaking care. I've seen enough to believe that more mosaic tiling in public spaces could help save lives.
So imagine my pleasure and sense of confirmation when I came across these wonderful mosaic surfaces in the remains of the ancient Roman city of Ephesus in Turkey. Covering a vast area of public space, this tiling has a lovely organic quality with each component tile being unique in shape and the use of beautiful but subtle colour palettes laid out in simply enjoyable patterns. If it was good enough for the Romans I am sure we can borrow a bit from their seat of civilisation and inject some of that much maligned and often abused art form into out urban cityscape's for the good of humankind.
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