Occasionally I experience something incredible, beautiful or even revolting which i just know will influence my artistic endeavours wether I like it or not.
Today was one of those days.
Escadaria-Selaron
Near where I am currently staying in Rio de Janeiro is this wildly obsessive and still growing masterpiece- Escadaria Selaron. After wandering up a dingy alleyway that smells like piss I discovered an enormous mosaic encrusted staircase, vibrant and pumping with activity.
Immense in scale and containing thousands of tiles from many different countries this is a work in progress with the artist- Selaron -still continuing the artwork on a daily basis.
Lately I have been falling ever more in love with mosaics, patchworks and stained glass windows, and so this was seriously exciting!
I love the combinations of colour and form. I love the way one tile influences the next- the shapes and patterns that emerge on small and large scales- both the intimate details and the impressive optical illusions of the whole. I am breath taken by the sheer mass of individual pieces, and yet the way each of those pieces is specifically, carefully placed.
Selaron was there today, diligently working away, he was very friendly and insisted on signing a postcard for my son.
Selaron welcomes contributions of tiles from all over the world from anyone keen to donate. He plans to continue this work for the rest of his life. What a guy.