A mosaic staircase has appeared in Irkutsk

In Irkutsk on Mayakovsky Street, the Mosaic Staircase appeared, an unusual work of art created by a student with support from supervisors, architects, and loved ones. The article tells how the ceramic mosaic was handmade, why the process was so laborious, and how many firing stages were needed to realize the idea.

This work of art appeared on Mayakovsky Street not far from the railway lyceum. The student’s academic supervisors, Anna Lukyanova and Irina Dyachenko, as well as the architecture and design department of the urban planning policy committee of the Irkutsk city administration, helped bring the idea to life.
The technique used to make the staircase is called ceramic mosaic. Hence the name. Ceramics is a modern, unique material: environmentally friendly, durable, and long-lasting. With it, you can achieve almost any texture and color effect.
Masters say the process of creating a ceramic mosaic is extremely complex and labor-intensive; each tile is made and glazed by hand. But the feeling of something handmade cannot be achieved in any other way.
First, a slab of material is rolled out, then the design is applied, and the pattern is cut out.
All the pieces are numbered, dried, and then each one is sanded by hand. Next, the blank undergoes its first firing in a special kiln; after that, glaze is applied and it is fired again. In total, there are at least five such firings at temperatures above 1,000 degrees.
The installation of the “Mosaic Staircase” on Mayakovsky Street took place after the thesis defense. Elena’s supervisors, friends, and even her parents helped her complete this difficult work. The project was entirely funded by the author.