Mosaic murals and their undeniable conspicuous beauty
The art form of mural-making has truly taken over the world in these past few decades. Whether you want to make a political statement, celebrate a social movement, or just make people on the streets stop and admire something for a couple of seconds — murals seem to be a way to do it. And that hasn’t started recently…
First mosaic murals were found in Mesopotamia in the 3rd millennium BC, so it has been way more than just a couple of decades since the very first mosaic murals have seen the light of day or the gloomy interior of a palace for that matter. People have realized the value of public expression and open-to-view artwork early on.
Not a lot has changed in that department until today. Talented individuals, with some extra fervor and a very particular set of skills (Liam Neeson style baby!), still work on telling their story and embellishing the walls of public and less public buildings all over the world. From famous mosaicists such as Gary Drostle, Sonia King, and Jim Anderson, to underdogs of contemporary mosaic art, mosaic artists are always keen on inspiring the public and making their masterpieces seen and felt by others.
Just like with every other art form, topics within the vast universe of mosaic murals can vary from deeply personal and intimate to socio-economic stances of a community or world in general. From sea scenery, ceramic tile murals on public display in Hanoi, Vietnam, eclectic mixed media mosaics down the streets of Philly, US, to community projects depicting unity and love in Amherstburg, Canada, topics and expression styles just seem to go expand every year. If you are talented, inspired, and eager to state something, mosaic art seems to be the way to go.
Materials used for mosaic murals involved the selected few in the beginning. Glass, marble, and ceramic tiles seem to be the prevalent choices when it comes to the art of mosaic murals. Lately, mosaicists such as Isaiah Zagar, Peter Mason, and Maurice Bennett introduced some new and unusual materials for mosaic making. From toast and postage stamps to empty bottles and bike wheels, anything can be used to make a mosaic art worth seeing and experiencing.
Mosaic murals just keep popping up in cities all over the globe and more and more people are becoming aware of their significance and artistic value. Mosaic murals are truly an imperative in the world of contemporary art and culture in general because they bring art right in front of the public eye. They are a unique communication tool and they affect the attitudes and moods of people passing by them. Finally, mosaic murals are also landscapes, in their own right. They cover the ugly facades of the tallest buildings and boring grey concrete fence panels. Keeping all of this in mind, it is no wonder mosaic murals are quickly becoming a prevalent form of public art.
