The Mosaic

The ancient art form of floor mosaics ( opus tessellatum) and wall and ceiling mosaics (opus musaicum) were born of the mythological Greek Muses representing memory, culture, nature, and society. The mosaic&s;s deeper significance and function is often masked by a visual beauty and mistaken as mere art or surface decoration. The mosaic&s;s real power lies with the mosaic&s;s inherent linguistic structure and its functional qualities of communication. As an interlocking pattern of diverse pieces that make up a unified whole, its structure is timeless. As a direct mode of communication, mosaics link physical spaces with multimedia experiences and knowledge. Mosaics have evolved in application, function, and form from their ancient roots yet retain an imbedded DNA akin to the human desire for self-expression and storytelling. Mosaics may yet come to serve individuals, communities, and civilisations in strengthening our shared cultural and environmental infrastructures in the face of perceived crisis, fracture, and transformation.