Contemplating Patterns Over Vinho Verde
DESIGN INSPIRATION / GRAPHIC PATTERNS / LOCATION / PHOTOGRAPHY
I just returned from a trip to Lisbon and the south of Portugal. When I wasn’t consuming piles of sardines and glasses of vinho verde, I was aiming my camera at whatever vibrant and textured surface, vista, signage or foliage I came across. Being the photo-op that Portugal is, it’s never difficult to find any or all of the above, and, as such, one’s vinho verde time is never seriously impinged.
One of the many things that grab your attention about the architecture – and particularly that of the south – is the use of Moorish influenced glazed tiles and the seemingly endless combinations of colors and patterns that adorn them. This differs somewhat from Porto and the north, where tiles are also used on homes, churches and public buildings, but the color schemes tend toward the Delft-style blue and white variety common to the Netherlands and inherited from porcelain gathered during exploration voyages to China and the far east.
I’ve posted a small collection of tile images below – all taken on the fly. Viewing them again in my New York office, I’m reminded of just how much personality and garish, clashing and stubborn individuality they add to the fronts of stores and houses on nearly every street. As chipped and faded as they sometimes are, they still manage to convey a certain timeless whimsy that is as much a part of the country as Port wine and piri piri. Enjoy.
Full size images are available here.
