And speaking of the revolution...
I don't know about you guys, but is it me or is there a strong tide of universal insurgency billowing all about us? I don't think it's just my wishful thinking. But I'd best leave it at that!
This week, Tile Envy takes a tile tour of a little revolution that took place in Brazil just after the mid 50's. At that time a very charismatic (aren't they all) leader takes over the Brazilian presidency and promises to modernize Brazil's economy. Now, imagine that he actually sets about to memorialize his revolution with a new country capital lead by the collective artistic endeavors of Lucio Costas, Le Corbusier and Oscar Neimeyer and you've got - Brasilia.
The story of the creation and construction of Brazil's modern capital city is filled with intrigue, conspiracy and scandal. But for our purposes the story is about an urban landscape of modernist structures emphasized by the prolific graphic visions of artist and master tile designer- Athos Bulcão.
It all sounds more like an Ayn Rand novel than a true story. And at the center of this little tidbit of urban renewal is Mr. Bulcão, who was a painter and sculptor employed by Neimeyer to assist in the decorative aspects of the modernist construction. Later known as the artist of Brasilia, Bulcão's prolific works touch nearly every part of Brazil's capital city.
Athos Bulcão
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Bulcao is obviously considered a national treasure in Brazil, but outside his homeland he is barely recognized. Does anyone besides me wonder why so few buildings in America are clad with decorative tiles? I think it might be time for a tile revolution...