Diamonds are forever…but so are mosaics
Every line of work has its often-used phrases and cliches, spoken so many times that they’ve lost their true value or any meaning whatsoever. If you’re into interior design in any way you will often hear words “timeless style” thrown around like Joe Biden throws Obama’s name — senselessly, but with the hope it sticks somewhere. Needless to say, it’s rarely fitting and on point, especially considering the fact that trends and people’s tastes change like Trump’s opinions — on a daily basis and without much logic. On the same note, the same way it is in human nature to join in groups and follow leaders we mustn’t forget that it is also in human nature to question everything. So, is there such a thing as “timeless style” or do we just try to sound dramatic? In the world where James Charles is a successful millionaire, I’d say it’s probably the latter.
When it comes to timeless and everlasting interior decoration and art, there is just one tangible thing that comes to mind — mosaics. Keeping in mind that the first known mosaics were found in one Mesopotamian temple that dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. Need I say more? There is also that “tiny” matter of the state that the large majority of these ancient mosaics were found in — virtually unchanged, untouched. Paintings are influenced by the sun and rain, they get tears and after a while, they have to be taken into the hands of the professionals to be heavily worked on and restored. Sculptures become shattered or their pieces are broken off, making them unrecognizable. Books are damaged by mold, humidity and human negligence, so many of them are virtually unusable after some time.
However, mosaics… well, let me tell you something, if art was Italian mafia, mosaics would be John “Teflon Don” Gotti because nothing harms these babies. Furthermore, due to their resilience and durability, mosaics don’t require any kind of maintenance. Sure, if a mosaic is in the smoking area it should be wiped every once in a while, but that about sums it up. Of course, we are talking about the mosaic art made in a traditional manner, out of tesserae — glass, marble, tiles or other hard, nature-based materials. If you make a contemporary mosaic art out of confetti and toilet paper, don’t expect it to last…
Regardless of the fact that mosaic art has been present for so long, it is still to this day considered to be an uncommon art form, kinda like Jeffree Star. Unlike other art forms, it demands a well-trained keen eye sensitive to details that are almost invisible to an amateur. In addition to that, the mosaic artist also has to be creative, calm and meticulous. I know that most blogs will tell you that all you have to do is have some sense of what’s beautiful, some tools, glue and a handful of materials to make a perfect mosaic art, but I won’t do that. Unless you are trained and experienced, you can at best make something fun-looking and vibrant, which is great.
However, if you want to add some intrinsic value to your real estate or have something mesmerizing and mind-blowingly beautiful, you will need a professional. On the same note, as trained as professional mosaic artists are, they never create two same pieces. One of the most important features of mosaic artistry is the utter uniqueness of every piece.
So when some “woke” millennial crosses my path starting to question why we do what we do, yammering on about new art forms and digitalized ways of expressing your artistic nature… Guuuurl, you get back to me in 3000 years if this planet we are ruining so diligently manages to last that long. Because if it does, nobody will be able to find any trace of whatever that mumbo-jumbo you call art, but there will still be plenty of glorious mosaics all over the planet. Just like in the Mad Max: Fury Road, if this planet keeps revolving in space for another couple of thousands of years, mosaic art will “witness it”.
