Ceramic interpretations of animal scenes in paleolithic period Central European Cave paintings

We understand the communication between humans and animals from the cave walls. Paleolithic period people painted animals they encountered in daily life on the walls of caves where they were thought to live for shelter. Although it is not known exactly why the paintings were made in the Paleolithic period, the theme of the paintings is; Religious rituals, an event in daily life, a hunting scene or the natural life of animals are depicted on cave walls. In the research conducted; The pictures are well depicted with anatomical details, close to realism, and it is understood that they tried to capture the three- dimensional view in the pictures by using the protrusions in the cave. Generally, black and red toned colors are used in the paintings. Some of the drawings were made by carving with scraping tools. Within the scope of the thesis, the historical process of the selected Paleolithic period caves and cave paintings, the technique of the paintings, and the purposes of their making were investigated. Animal figures such as bison, deer and horses in these caves in Central Europe were examined in detail. Later, examples in today's ceramic art were researched, and the works of Ule EWELT, Pierre GENOURIER and Laura ROSE were also examined. As a result of all these researches, watercolor studies of many of the paintings found in the selected Central European Caves were made and thus the figures used were better recognized. Inspired by the paintings in caves, two- dimensional figures were transferred to three dimensions with ceramics. Scenes and figures identified from cave paintings were shaped from ceramics to create original forms. Meanwhile, personal emotions and expressions were also included in the works, coloring was done with different firing techniques, and at the end of the process, original animal figures were achieved. Thanks to this master's degree artwork report, while trying to draw attention to the cave and animal paintings that were selected and researched, original three-dimensional interpretations of the paintings in these caves were implemented with ceramics. Thus, cultural transfer was attempted by transferring the Central European Cave paintings made in ancient times to the field of today's ceramic art.