Ceramic decoration of the villa Mare Nostrum (83) Fresco with octopus and fish

Fresco with octopus and fish

This house by the sea contains all the history of his family and the owner is very attached to it. With an enthusiasm worthy of Marseille, he entrusted Odile with the delicate mission of decorating the terrace and the façade. He is an art lover and passionate about Greek and Roman mythology. His requests are precise and reflect his dreams and his culture. et Romaine.

On the floor, he is inspired by a mosaic of Pompeii dating from 78 BC and representing an octopus smothering a lobster in its tentacles, surrounded by 21 fish. He also wants a contemporary reference with the painting “Bird Blast” by Fred Tomaselli, exposed in New York. This work can be looked at in all directions with an idea of explosion. Odile begins to make sketches to gather her ideas.

She interprets the mosaic by a bas-relief with enamelled sandstone. The cuts of the pieces start from a central point between the eyes of the octopus and evoke the explosion. The artist identifies and sketches in watercolor each of the twenty-one fishes before painting them with engobes on raw clay. She sends the photos of each step to her client who is delighted to follow the progress of the work and gives his opinion.

The whole thing looks like a huge puzzle measuring 2.60 x 2.50 m, made up of 200 pieces, which Odile has placed on the ground.

The glazed stoneware is weather and moisture resistant. Today, the fresco of the fishes faces the sea. It is a unique work that dresses the terrace and gives character to the house.