Mosaiik

Mosaiik is a term used in several languages to refer to mosaic art, a decorative technique in which small pieces called tesserae are arranged to form patterns or images. The practice covers floors, walls, ceilings, and panels and has been employed since antiquity.

The word is related to mosaic in English and derives from Latin mosaicus and Greek mosaikos, with variants in many languages. Earliest mosaics appear in the Near East and the Mediterranean in the 3rd millennium BCE, with notable examples in Mesopotamian and Greco-Roman contexts. In the Byzantine era, mosaics flourished in churches, often using glass and gold tesserae; Islamic art also features extensive geometric mosaic tilework.

Techniques include opus tessellatum, which uses small uniform tesserae, and opus sectile, which employs larger, cut pieces to create patterns. Modern mosaics may combine traditional methods with innovative materials such as smalti glass, ceramic, stone, and even recycled or digital components. The setting medium is generally mortar or plaster, while restoration and conservation methods have advanced to preserve fragile tesserae.

In contemporary contexts, mosaiik continues in architectural decoration, public artworks, and gallery exhibitions. Artists explore traditional forms, abstract compositions, and site-specific installations. The term also appears in branding and museum contexts, reflecting a broad cultural association with tessellated imagery and the enduring appeal of mosaic design across eras and regions.