Mosaic art, with its roots stretching back thousands of years, often conjures images of meticulously placed stone, glass, or ceramic tiles – the traditional tesserae. These tiny pieces, assembled patiently, create enduring images and patterns that have decorated floors, walls, and ceilings from ancient Rome to modern subways. Yet, like any enduring art form, mosaic is not static. Contemporary artists are breathing new life into this ancient craft by venturing beyond the familiar palette of materials, boldly integrating non-traditional elements and “new media” alongside classic tesserae. This fusion isn’t just about novelty; it’s about expanding the expressive language of mosaic, creating dialogues between textures, histories, and technologies.
Expanding the Mosaic Vocabulary: What is “New Media”?
When we talk about “new media” in the context of mosaic, it’s a broad church. It doesn’t necessarily mean solely digital technology, although that can play a part. More often, it refers to materials not historically associated with tesserae. Think beyond smalti and marble. We’re talking about things like:
- Recycled Materials: Plastic fragments (bottle caps, old toys, shredded containers), e-waste components (bits of circuit boards, wires), sea glass, discarded metal pieces (keys, nuts, bolts, bottle caps).
- Manufactured Goods: Buttons, beads, LEGO bricks, synthetic resins, industrial offcuts.
- Found Objects: Driftwood, pebbles smoothed by time but not traditionally cut, shells, seeds, fragments of old pottery or china (piquassiette technique, but pushed further).
- Light Elements: LEDs, fiber optics, phosphorescent materials embedded within or behind the mosaic structure.
- Digital Integration: While less common in traditional “stuck down” mosaics, some artists experiment with projection mapping onto mosaic surfaces or incorporating small screens.
The key is the intentional juxtaposition of these unconventional items with traditional materials like cut glass, ceramic tiles, or natural stone. It’s this interplay that sparks innovation.
Why Combine? The Artistic Impetus
Why would artists choose to mix, say, shimmering Italian smalti with rough, rusted bolts or smooth ceramic tiles with jagged pieces of colourful plastic? The motivations are varied and often layered.
Textural and Visual Contrast
One of the most immediate impacts is the dramatic expansion of texture and finish. Traditional tesserae offer a range of surfaces – the glossy smoothness of glass, the matte finish of unglazed ceramic, the crystalline sparkle of smalti, the earthy grain of stone. Introducing materials like worn plastic, rough metal, or soft fabric remnants creates a tactile and visual dynamism impossible with a single material type. The eye is drawn to the unexpected shifts, the way light catches a polished glass piece differently than it does a dull piece of recycled rubber.
Conceptual Depth and Narrative
Combining materials can infuse a work with deeper meaning. Using recycled plastics alongside natural stone might comment on environmental concerns, the tension between nature and human consumption. Incorporating found objects – a broken piece of china, an old key, a child’s lost toy – can embed personal or collective memories directly into the artwork’s fabric, telling stories that traditional tesserae alone might not convey as directly. The materials themselves become part of the narrative.
Sustainability and Upcycling
Many artists are drawn to using discarded or recycled materials out of a commitment to sustainability. Transforming waste into something beautiful challenges perceptions of value and consumption. This approach aligns mosaic, an art form often associated with permanence and precious materials, with contemporary concerns about resource management and environmental impact. It’s a way of making art that is both beautiful and conscientious.
Exploring Light and Dimension
Integrating elements like LEDs or fiber optics pushes mosaic into the realm of light art. Traditional mosaics rely on reflected light, but embedding light sources allows the artwork to glow from within, creating dramatic effects, shifting moods, and interacting with the ambient environment in new ways. This can add literal layers of light and shadow, enhancing the three-dimensionality of the piece.
Material Compatibility Warning: When combining diverse materials, careful consideration must be given to their physical properties. Differences in expansion and contraction rates due to temperature or humidity changes can cause stress, leading to cracking or delamination over time. Always research and test adhesives and substrates for suitability with all combined elements, especially for outdoor or high-traffic installations.
Techniques for Integration: Making it Stick
Successfully marrying traditional tesserae with new media requires adapting techniques and sometimes inventing new ones. The method depends heavily on the specific materials being combined.
Adhesives are Key
Traditional mosaic often relies on cement-based adhesives or thin-set mortars. While these work well for stone and ceramic, they may not bond effectively with plastics, metals, or smoother non-porous materials. Artists often turn to specialized adhesives:
- Epoxy Resins: Offer strong bonding for a wide variety of materials, including plastics and metals. They can be clear or pigmented.
- Silicone Adhesives: Provide flexibility, which can be crucial when combining materials with different expansion rates. Good for non-porous surfaces.
- PVA Glues (Specialized): Stronger formulations of PVA might work for lighter elements or embedding within grout lines.
- Mechanical Fastenings: Sometimes, adhesives aren’t enough. Small screws, wires, or embedding techniques might be needed for heavier or awkwardly shaped found objects.
Substrate Preparation
The base or substrate needs to be appropriate for the mix of materials and the chosen adhesive. Rigid boards (like Wedi board or cement board) are often preferred over wood, which can warp with moisture and affect the diverse materials adhered to it. The substrate might need priming or sealing depending on the adhesive system used.
Embedding and Grouting Strategies
Grouting can be challenging when dealing with mixed media. Sharp edges on metal or plastic might need careful handling. Some materials might absorb grout differently, leading to staining. Artists might choose to:
- Selective Grouting: Only grout around the traditional tesserae, leaving the new media elements ungrouted or partially grouted for textural effect.
- Using Different Grout Types: Employing epoxy grout for areas needing more durability or stain resistance.
- Building Up Layers: Embedding objects within layers of adhesive or resin rather than relying solely on surface adhesion and grout.
- No Grout: Some contemporary mosaics, especially those incorporating very diverse or delicate objects, might forgo grout altogether, relying purely on the adhesive bond and the close placement of elements.
Challenges on the Cutting Edge
Innovation rarely comes without hurdles. Artists working with mixed-media mosaics face several challenges:
- Longevity and Durability: Will the plastic fade or become brittle? Will the metal rust or corrode? How will differential expansion affect the piece over decades? Predicting the long-term behaviour of unconventional combinations can be difficult.
- Finding Balance: Achieving aesthetic harmony between disparate materials requires a keen eye. The goal is usually synergy, not just a random jumble. Too much contrast can feel chaotic; too little might negate the purpose of mixing media.
- Technical Skill: Working with new materials often requires learning new cutting, shaping, and adhering techniques beyond traditional glass nipping or stone cutting.
- Sourcing Materials: Finding consistent or suitable recycled or found objects can be time-consuming.
The Vibrant Future of Mosaic
Despite the challenges, the fusion of traditional tesserae with new media represents an exciting evolution in mosaic art. It pushes the boundaries of what a mosaic can be, moving beyond purely decorative surfaces towards more complex, textured, and conceptually rich artworks. This approach keeps the ancient craft relevant and dynamic, attracting artists and audiences interested in material exploration, narrative potential, and sustainable practices.
By respecting the history of mosaic while fearlessly experimenting with the materials of today – whether gleaned from a recycling bin, an electronics workshop, or a hardware store – artists are ensuring that this intricate art form continues to captivate and surprise. The dialogue between the old and the new, the precious and the discarded, the reflective and the illuminated, is crafting the next chapter in the long and vibrant story of mosaic.
