| In the 19th century there was a revival of interest in mosaics, as European countries acquired land and imperial ambitions, they looked back to the arts and architecture of the classical world for inspirations. Amongst this revival, the Byzantine style was particularly popular, with buildings like the Westminster Cathedral (left) and Sacre-Coeur in Paris as great examples. Many Victorian civic buildings contain significant mosaic works, as a result of direct copies from ones from the classical world. Such interest in replicating the arts from the Roman Empire was Europe-wide and had a significant influence for mosaic making in Italy until today.
With the advancement in modern manufacturing technology, Mosaic tiles have become relatively easy to produce in mass quantities in the 20th century. As a result, mosaic became a part of a wide selection of “building material” for surfaces and finishes, and tends to be thought of as more the work of craftspeople than artists. In today’s day and age though, most of the art work can be reduce down to simple composition starting out with paper design, nonetheless, the essence of this unique art craft, using boundless colors and shapes for creative expression, with has became increasingly popular with the general public. From prefabricated mosaic sheets for architectural finishing and decoration to custom designed murals and flooring patterns, this eternal art form will surely find new ways to evolve and flourish in the new age. |
