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Items tagged with: mosaicArt
Repairing Streets with Artful Mosaics (14 Photos)
Content warning: Ememem, the ‘pavement surgeon,’ transforms urban cracks and potholes into stunning mosaic artworks. Based in Lyon, France, his unique practice, called ‘flacking,’ turns overlooked blemishes into vibrant street art that democratizes public spaces. With wor
In the world of street art, where walls, buildings, and other vertical surfaces often steal the show, Ememem brings something refreshingly different to the table — or rather, to the pavement.
Known as the “pavement surgeon,” this French street artist transforms cracks, potholes, and other urban blemishes into stunning mosaic artworks. With a trowel in hand and tiles at the ready, Ememem has made a name by bringing beauty to what most people overlook.
More like this: Repairing the World with LEGO: Jan Vormann’s Dispatchwork Project
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The Art of Flacking
Ememem’s unique practice is known as “flacking,” a term the artist coined to describe the act of filling urban cracks with intricate designs. The colorful patterns often stand out against the dull grays of asphalt and concrete. Each piece transforming damage into art.
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From Lyon to the World
Based in Lyon, France, Ememem started flacking in 2016. The artist’s works have since spread to streets across Europe, making appearances in cities like Paris, Madrid, and Milan. Every piece is site-specific, tailored to the unique shape and character of each crack or hole. Whether it’s a geometric explosion of color or a more subdued design that blends with the environment, Ememem’s mosaics are unmistakable.
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Democratizing Public Space
Ememem’s art does more than beautify streets; it also reclaims public spaces for everyone. By addressing overlooked areas and elevating them through art, the artist highlights the power of creativity in transforming everyday environments. The work is accessible to all, reinforcing the idea that art doesn’t need to be confined to galleries or museums.
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Themes and Inspiration
The mosaics often reflect themes of repair, resilience, and humor. Some designs include playful patterns that mimic flowers, mandalas, or traditional tilework, while others incorporate messages or hidden symbols. This blend of craft and commentary invites viewers to look closer and engage with the art on a personal level. Each piece tells a story of renewal, where broken streets are given new life.
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Viral Appeal
With the rise of social media, Ememem’s works have gained global recognition. The striking visuals are a favorite for Instagram, where hashtags like #flacking and #urbanart help spread the artist’s creations to audiences far beyond the streets where they’re found. The visually compelling mosaics often go viral. Follow Ememem Instagram here.
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Whether you stumble upon one of Ememem’s pieces while walking to work or see them shared online, their impact is undeniable.
They challenge us to see the cracks in our world not as flaws but as opportunities for creativity and connection.
No future for the potholes!
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Flacking against the gray void
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J.O PARIS 2024.Village Olympique
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Angled Balkan Flacking and four feet
Would you like to see Ememem’s mosaic art (Flacking!) in your city?
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Stone by Stone: Justin Bateman’s Incredible Pebble Portraits in Thailand
Content warning: Discover Justin Bateman’s breathtaking pebble art, including the iconic “George Washingstone,” created in Bangkok, Thailand. Made with stones from a railway, this temporary masterpiece blends history, nature, and creativity.
Justin Bateman makes amazing art using stones and pebbles.
His portraits capture the feelings and stories of his subjects while showing how temporary art can be. He creates his works outside, and over time, nature takes them back.
More from Justin Bateman: Webpage // Instagram // Facebook
More Land Art: 18 Pics Of Land Art Sculptures by Jon Foreman
One of his coolest pieces is “George Washingstone.”
He made it in Bangkok, Thailand, with stones he found by a railway. Bateman joked, “I did have to wash the stones,” showing how much care he puts into his art. This portrait of George Washington mixes history and nature in a really creative way.
‘Paper money has had the effect that it will ever have, to ruin commerce, oppress the honest, and open the door to every species of fraud and injustice.’ – George Washington
‘Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.’ –Henry David Thoreau
‘Grace’
‘Peace isn’t an experience free of challenges, free of rough and smooth, it’s an experience that’s expansive enough to include all that arises without feeling threatened.’ – Pema Chödrö
Justin Bateman: My work is not political, but the context is inherent in every portraits physiognomy. ‘Grace’ is based on a photograph by Oleg Doroshenko, ‘Myanmar old lady’.
‘Fisherman’
‘The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope’. – John Buchan
‘Refugee 1’
‘The aim is not to make a portrait, it is to express the soul of a subject, however briefly’. – Justin Bateman
Justin Bateman: Where do we belong? It can be hard to know, but most of us have a place we call home. Others lack both material and spiritual homes, taking temporary refuge where they can… Those who were simply born in the wrong place at the wrong time. The forgotten faces series of ‘Refugees’ explores the brevity of belonging for those people who’s name and fate is unknown. Inspired by a photograph of Burmese Refugees in Thailand, with the kind permission of Christian Bobst.
‘Refugee 2’
Justin Bateman: Help Myanmar end the violence and restore democracy by donating to the interim government CRPH.
‘Mandela Mandala’
‘During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.’ – Nelson Mandela
Justin Bateman: In collaboration with the earth, these momentary reflections sometimes represent our human ideals. But they are only ever allegories for something far greater…. To witness a love that will outlive any object.
‘Masonry Messiah’
“Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty” – Brené Brown
Justin Bateman: Stones have illustrated core concepts in spiritual teachings for centuries. Whilst creating the mosaics it is possible to achieve a contemplative state of heightened awareness and meditation. In this discipline there is freedom. The stones are integral to my practice whereby the medium is very much the message.
‘La Scapigliata’
‘I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than closed by belief’. – Gerry Spence
More Land Art: 6 Mind-Blowing Land Art Creations by Jon Foreman You Have to See
What do you think about the land art by Justin Bateman? Should we do a part 2 of his newer artworks?
18 Stunning Land Artworks by Jon Foreman! (Nature’s Beauty in Stone Patterns)
Discover the amazing world of Jon Foreman, where nature and art come together in incredible land sculptures.
Using stones, driftwood, and other natural materials, Foreman turns everyday landscapes into stunning works of art. He lives in Wales and creates art that shows how people and nature can work together. Each sculpture is carefully arranged with beautiful patterns and shapes that highlight the wonders of the natural world.These artworks don’t last forever—the tides or weather often take them away soon after they’re made. Want to see more of Jon Foreman’s work? Check out his Instagram and visit his website to explore his stunning creations and learn more about his process!
Lux Tenebris
Jon Foreman: Created at Pensarn, Abergele. This was the last piece I made in 2021! I was glad to have gotten the chance to work on a large scale again, it had been a while! As ever I had an idea that changed as I progressed but I love that this one has curves going horizontally and vertically with a kind of half pipe effect (a curved ramp of stones either side). Also very lucky to have had the chance to capture the sea engulfing it. Although it was coming in very fast it was coming very calmly which allowed me to get plenty of photos, got my feet wet for this shot!
Crescent
Jon Foreman: Created at Lindsway Bay, Pembrokeshire. I’m so used to following the circle round further that its hard to break the habit. Glad to have managed it with this one though! It really feels like it merges into the sand, which is something that I’m not sure I’ve succeeded in doing in the past. At least not as well as this one.
Dissicio Quadratum
Created at Freshwater West.
Circumflexus
Jon Foreman: Created for Llano Earth Art Fest Texas. This is the most intensive work I’ve created and took four days to complete! I initially started with the largest stones making the back of the circle, as the stones got smaller I began to realise the time that would be involved. I’d love to know how many there actually are! Photo by Laurence Winram Photography.
Fluidus
Jon Foreman: Yes it looks like a jellyfish, no its not meant to be one. I’m not trying to suppress any imagination but for me I’m essentially trying to create something that doesn’t yet exist so that attachment to something that does exist gets on my nerves haha also feels like its oversimplifying the work a bit… But call it what you want haha!This one was actually created before “Peruersum” (The 4 day piece created at LEAF) and is what Peruersum was based on. The difference being that I didn’t have the time fill a full circle for this one so I got the opportunity at LEAF. I love creating the familiarity between pieces of work without directly repeating something. Having said that, i don’t know that I could directly repeat a piece of work without it becoming a tiny bit different!
Also the sand was really annoying that day and every time I put a stone into the sand it created the cracks you can see between the stones, interesting effect i suppose
Acervus Circlus
Jon Foreman: Created at Freshwater West. I love working like this, finding colours that contrast well and placing on top of one another. Very satisfying work to do, showing freshwater Wests colours in a different way, although I usually add white too I thought amongst these white may stand out too much.
Expletio Duo
Jon Foreman: Created at Freshwater West. This piece is 1 in a 3 part set that I’m trying to get made. Many of you will have seen “Expletio” which is a single spiral using these same colours and this fractal style of working. I shall at some stage be creating the third in the set which will be a triple spiral in the same style! Anyway this one proved more fiddly than the previous version, I think I must have downscaled it a bit and that coupled with cold/windy weather made for difficult work. Got there in the end though!
Druid Spiral
Jon Foreman: Created at Druidston I love working with the slate at this beach, definitely has a different vibe and colour, I’ll have to get back there again soon!
Sinking Circle
Jon Foreman: Although I don’t consider myself an especially good photographer I’m very happy with how this one turned out, aside from the work itself looking good (and with this angle showing the incline more clearly) aside from the work I think I caught the atmosphere of the day which isn’t often very obvious in my work! Also love the water making the edge of the stones glow and they disappear into the distance, I’m all about depth within the sculpture why not outside the sculpture too.
Lumen
Jon Foreman: Created at Freshwater West. A couple of years back I created a very similar piece to this, the only difference being that the stones were previously placed flat. I feel the sense of movement is enhanced with them placed this way really radiating outward as they disperse.
Nether Flower
Jon Foreman: Created at Freshwater West. Couldn’t resist sharing this angle with the shadows! This one got a little bit messy in the middle because of the nature of the placement in the space available. I have to start in the middle and slot the next layer behind the previous so the more I add the less space there is in the small “hole” I made for this. So yeah they got a little bit squashed but I can live with that!
Above Below
Jon Foreman: Created at Freshwater West. Another mushroom creation, couldn’t resist making use of the massive branch of driftwood. Again these are just stones balanced on sticks accept where they go over the driftwood. A fun one for sure… More mushrooms to come!
Shroom Sheet
Jon Foreman: Created at Freshwater West I’ve done quite a lot now with shrooms, yes they’re stones balanced on sticks, no – its not as difficult as it seems! .. until you start putting them very close together… But until creating this piece I’ve yet to work with them while incorporating colour (or more precisely colour change) as with this one! I’ll likely do more at some stage!
Obnatus Luna
Jon Foreman: These stones are often buried under the sand when there’s been particularly high tides so I have to hope they’re not buried every time!More: 6 Amazing Land Art Creations by Jon Foreman You Have to See
What do you think about this art by Jon Foreman? Should we do a blog post of his newer artworks?
Jon Foreman (@sculpttheworld) • Instagram photos and videos
750K Followers, 5,929 Following, 988 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Jon Foreman (@sculpttheworld)www.instagram.com
Justin Bateman (@pebblepicassos) • Instagram photos and videos
696K Followers, 552 Following, 223 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Justin Bateman (@pebblepicassos)www.instagram.com