Use of unfired ceramic clay in context of the concept of temporality in contemporary art

Art movements that diversified with the changing ideologies of the twentieth century have introduced new concepts to art terminology with a thought-provoking and questioning perspective. Temporality, which includes a limited time interval or the process of change of form, is one of these concepts. In contemporary art platforms and different disciplines, temporality is addressed from a critical perspective through the permanent and temporary position of the work as a reaction to both the formalism of art and the commodification of art. In works where temporality is expressed, the exhibition method is planned as instantaneous, short-term, or a narrative is presented about the physical transformation of the material under the influence of natural or artificial conditions. Ceramics, which is an indispensable material of daily life, is preferred by contemporary artists with its many technical and characteristic features such as easy shaping. In particular, the physical change that clay material undergoes in its natural environment depending on the process is used to interpret temporary situations. The fact that unfired ceramic clay is not durable and therefore not permanent makes it frequently preferred as a powerful artistic expression tool in expressing the concepts of temporality. Within the scope of the thesis, the usage areas of unfired ceramic clay in contemporary art in the context of temporality were examined and evaluated and artistic applications were carried out on the subject. In this context, first of all, the concept of time, which is related to temporality, is defined, then the development of contemporary art is conveyed through temporary works of art and the connection between ceramic clay and temporality is established. Keywords: Temporality, Time, Contemporary Art, Ceramic, Unfired Clay