Ceramic ware with forms and decorations derived from selected Uganda's fauna

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to use Uganda's material culture with specific reference to fauna as a source of inspiration to enhance ceramic ware in terms of form, decoration, promotion and preservation of Ugandan culture. The research is born out of the fact that the researcher has been observing that many of the ceramic items produced or imported in Uganda have forms that are largely geometric, besides; the decorations mainly reflect images derived from fauna or flora from foreign regions other than Uganda. The researcher thought that the research would come in handy and help to address the problem by sensitizing artists and porters about making ceramic pieces using fauna from Uganda as a source of inspiration. The study was based on the following objectives: • Identify common fauna that can be used as a source of inspiration m ceramic art production to portray a Ugandan culture. • Ascertain ways in which ceramic artists in Uganda have used fauna as a source of inspiration to produce ceramic pieces portraying Ugandan culture; • Produce studio based ceramic ware using the selected fauna as source of inspiration. Following the above objectives, the practical part of this study started with analysis of fauna, as a result Uganda Kob and the Ankole cow were identified as the animals that would be used in this research. Studies of the selected fauna were made; this enhanced the researchers' understanding of different forms which were later used to create ceramic forms and decorations.