23/03/2018
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“Calçada Portuguesa”
Artwork by Hamid Spahi for Mille Pezzi.
Glass-mosaic (Bisazza).
Embedded in a wooden frame.
Size 49 x 34 cm, depth 4 cm.
For sale - price upon request.
This work of art was inspired by the existing historic pavements of Lisbon, namely the Calçada Portuguesa, which were established in the 16th century. This type of natural stone mosaic pavement is found all over Portugal, and also Brazil is famous for it: the Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro is paved in a similar pattern as presented this mosaic.
This illusionary bird’s eye view shows a man crossing the pavement of Rossio Square in the heart of Lisbon, Portugal’s beautiful capital. The man is accompanied by the shadow of another man with a hat. It’s the mysterious shadow of the poet Fernando Pessoa, Lisbon’s most legendary person (Pessoa is the Portuguese word for person or man). Pessoa reportedly complained to not having a shadow of his own.
You don’t have to indulge in the implemented story to be surprised by the three-dimensionality, or to enjoy how the mosaic is reflecting the light just like the real pavement would, in the sun, right after a warm summer rain.
Portugal is THE European cradle for the art of ceramic tiles, an Arabic handicraft and culture brought to Europe by the Moorish, and therefore we love to travel there whenever we can, especially to Lisbon. This mosaic is a tribute.
Mille Pezzi – where every broken tile tells a story.