The role of imaginary play in ceramic artand its contemporary interpretations

The image, which means something that is imagined and longed for, is a reflection of the human inner world. Imaginary play can be defined as the revelation and concretization of images through play. In imaginary plays, where there are no specific objectives, no particular thing is thought or designed, and most of the time they are spontaneous, aesthetic perception is sometimes not considered. In contemporary ceramic art, especially with surrealist artists of the period, the traditional structure of ceramics was first broken away from, and modern examples of imaginary play began to be produced. Original and spontaneous patterns and images were reflected on ceramic forms. Many successful contemporary artists today also create their works with random lines and forms. In the scope of this research, the concepts of image and play were initially examined to delve into the concept of imaginary play. In the following sections, the relationship of imaginary play with the historical development of ceramic art and its effects on contemporary ceramic art were explored. Additionally, the connection of this topic with the field of psychology was emphasized and its relationship with other disciplines was exemplified with visuals. Based on the information obtained about imaginary play, new designs were created by the researcher to contribute new expressions to contemporary ceramic art.