#COOL GRAFFITI FULL#
At the Aeroporto stop by Lisbon airport, you’ll find black-and-white caricatures of Portuguese national icons, while the Oriente stop is full of ocean-themed murals commissioned for Expo 98. You can catch some of Keil’s minimalist tile patterns at Restauradores station, alongside designs by abstractionist Nadir Afonso. Over the years, other artists pitched in, transforming the underground into a giant art space.Įvery station has a different atmosphere and mood. Painter Maria Keil was among the first artists to fill these urban spaces with bright, contemporary designs. The metro first arrived in Lisbon in 1959, and with it came a rediscovery of the versatility of azulejo tiles. Lisbon's underground stations are a public gallery for modern artworks © Micael Nussbaumer / Shutterstock Find fine art underground in LisbonĪrt has also found its way into the city's underground stations, with illustrations, quotes, and even stained-glass structures showcased across the Lisbon Metro network. More than 50,000 tiles make up this huge 21st-century mural, which depicts some of the city’s top landmarks in a bold, modernist style. Perhaps the most ambitious use of azulejos is in the wall panel designed by André Saraiva in Campo de Santa Clara. Over in Largo Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, tiles are used to create striking Masonic elements. By Largo do Intendente square, the former Fábrica Viúva Lamego ceramics factory draws visitors with its floral motifs and Asian figures that recall Portugal’s ties with the Far East. A visit to the Museu do Azulejo is a must if you want to dive deep into the history of this ceramic artform.īeyond the endless geometric patterns adorning gables, fountains and facades, some panels stand out for their complex figurative scenes. The trend continued for centuries, giving birth to the iconic tiled facades that adorn the city today. But after Lisbon was ravaged by the earthquake of 1755, tiles became a practical material for rebuilding Portugal's rebounding capital. Initially, tiles were used to adorn churches, palaces, and even gardens, as a sign of status and wealth. On a trip to Seville in 1498, Portuguese King Manuel I fell for the beauty of azulejo tiling and imported the tradition back to Portugal, kickstarting a national ceramic movement. It was the Moorish rulers of the medieval period who brought a taste for tiles to the Iberian Peninsula, with the first decorations appearing in Andalusia back in the 13th century. It’s a 400 page encyclopedia worth referencing before you head out into the world.Discover Lisbon's amazing coloured tiles The fine art of Lisbon tiles Each section features background on a city such as Barcelona or Melbourne along with a several artist profiles for each location. This is one of the best books on street art and it earned a spot on my shelf because it manages to comprehensively cover both great street art cities and the artists who spray them. The World Atlas of Street Art and Graffiti, Rafael Schacter This means that if you choose to purchase, I’ll make a small commission.) This of course, is much more expensive but worth it if you want to feed your library of graffiti art books. I live in California, but have actually purchased street art books from Foyle’s in London and had them shipped to me. Then call or visit your local indy bookstore and see if they can order it for you through the distributor or publisher. Make a note of the ISBN number, which is the ten digit inventory number. If you see a book that you like but it’s become unavailable on Amazon, don’t give up hope. I’m only listing books here that were available at the time of writing, so you should be able to get them. If you see a book you like, don’t wait to buy it, because by the time Christmas or your birthday comes around, it may be gone. Graffiti books are a niche market and they don’t get large print runs.
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