My focus over the weeks in Milan has remained consistent with my sketches still being focused on the representation of various ground coverages and patterns found around the city. Almost all of the floors, thus far, have consistently utilized geometrical shapes and patterns as well as a mosaic method. However, coloring has varied significantly from bright and playful tones to neutrals and serious colors. I have yet to find a justifiable correlation betweens place and color use – except for the fact that the most colorful examples have most often been found in sections of halls, walkways, or more public space as well as more often being found within interior spaces rather than outside.
Since returning from my previous weekend trip to Lille, France and Bruxelles, Belgium, I have become more aware of the extensive floor patterns found in all areas of Milan due to the fact that there seemed to be far less example within either Lille or Bruxelles. Granted that more patterned floorings seemed to be found in Bruxelles than in Lille, they were duller in comparison with the floorings I have seen so far in Milan.
Curious as to whether or not these examples of floorings were descriptive or representative of Milan more so than Italy as a whole, I thought back to the places outside of the city of Milan that we have visited and kept my eyes on the lookout in Rome this weekend. I feel as if it is reasonable to take these intricate floor coverings as a representation of Italian design since they have been found relatively consistently throughout various Italian regions- Milan, Como, Lago Maggiore, Borromean Islands, Venice, Rome, etc. The floors on the Islands and in Rome both reflect the geometrical patterns and use of mosaics, as well as a variation in use of color that is not completely explanatory. Therefore, rather than my sketchbook being primarily reflective of Milanese floorings in specific, there will be a representation of different floorings in the regions of Italy that I am able to explore to show certain consistencies in Italian design.
