Earthworms

National College of Arts Ceramics Design Thesis topic Cultural Identity

Presented By:

Muzamil Hussain Chandio 2019-nca-cera-260

Thesis In-charge Sir Naveed Niazi

Acknowledgments

As this report comes to a close, I would like to express my sincere thankfulness to ALLAH (swt), who made it possible for me to finish my assignment. The project would not have been possible without guidance and support my teacher who were always there to guide me and help me about how to conduct a comprehensive research,

I am extremely grateful to my HOD, Ma'am Shazia Mirza, and my Supervisor/Guide, Sir Naveed Niazi, for their unwavering assistance in relation to any project-related issues. Without their guidance, this project would not have been finished on schedule.

Furthermore, I would like to thank all the individual I came across during the thesis project for showing their support, being kind, patient and helpful through the project

Last but not least I would like to offer my great gratitude to my family and acquaintances that have also supported me and assisted me in every possible manner to complete my thesis project.

Statement

My work is based on the efforts my father has put into art through years of struggle which I have witnessed since childhood and being part of his artistic journey myself since then. I have seen him traveling to the distant parts of Sindh to take photos of people with cultural motifs and dresses. These cultural motifs are both at the very heart of my artistic aspiration and expression. I'm lucky enough to spend my formative years in the studio of my father where I learnt his skills keenly and absorbed his artistic acumen in me. During said years, I used to draw lines on random surfaces until my father handed me a sketchbook and said "Every form that you see translates them into lines". Thus, the process of creating images out of lines translated into ceramic design as well. I've used colorful washes and monochromatic tones in my work. These colorful washes symbolize the ups and downs in the subjects of my work. Whereas the use of black and white symbolizes the caricature manner these subjects are portrayed as such. I use a variety of colorful washes in my work to represent the highs and lows that I see in my selected personalities. Black and white images also symbolize how these people are caricatured by society.

Abstract
What is Cultural Identity and Why is it Important?

You have experienced the effects of cultural identity if you have ever been perplexed by someone's response to an event. When you perceive a scenario as benign but the other person reacts negatively or positively, it can be quite perplexing. What is cultural identity, though, and why is it important?

The beliefs, practices, behaviors, and values that a particular group of people considers appropriate are referred to as culture in this context. Identity, on the other hand, is about realizing what is right and true for you. When we unconsciously interpret and absorb signals from the environment into our own identities in order to feel like we belong, we develop a cultural identity. Therefore:

Your cultural identity is a critical piece of your personal identity (and worldview) that develops as you absorb, interpret, and adopt (or reject) the beliefs, values, behaviors, and norms of the communities in your life.

Our cultural identity can evolve, as culture is ever-evolving and dynamic. And while there are people who progress through life without ever thinking about their cultural identity, it is something we tend to become aware of when it’s challenged. This typically happens when we find ourselves in parts of the world or among groups with different cultural norms. Our cultural identity is important because it influences how we interpret and react to such situations, which can affect how successful we are in life.

What Defines and Shapes a Person’s Cultural Identity?

What makes culture complicated is that many of these defining characteristics go unspoken. The group unconsciously develops certain standards for what is normal and acceptable based on social cues. Then, through our continual exposure to the group, we begin to accept these standards as part of our cultural identity.

Important parts of your cultural identity are shaped due to your affiliation with any number of groups or cultural patterns, some of which we (as a culture) assign to you at birth, such as your:

family of origin race(s)
local community geography gender

religion sexuality generation physical ability nationality language

Why is Cultural Identity Important?

Culture is the shared characteristics of a group of people, which encompasses, place of birth, religion, language, cuisine, social behaviors, art, literature, and music. Some cultures are widespread, and have a large number of people who associate themselves with those particular values, beliefs, and origins. Others are relatively small, with only a small number of people who associate themselves with that culture. However, the value of culture cannot be defined by its size. No matter if a culture is widespread or kept within a small region, is young or old, or has changed over time or stayed the same, every culture can teach us about ourselves, others, and the global community.

Our cultural identity influences how we interpret and react to situations, so it is important that we become aware of our own identity in relation to the world around us. Since we have an innate craving to feel a sense of belonging to a group, when we are under stress we tend to subconsciously revert to whatever behaviors make us “feel” safe and accepted. In doing so, we set up invisible barriers within ourselves and between ourselves and others that impact personal interactions, professional performance, and organizational success.

In my professional life, I’ve seen conflicts arise due to fundamentally different viewpoints and a lack of understanding about the effect of cultural identities. When we develop an awareness of how our identities can act as a catalyst or barrier for growth, we unlock our true potential.

There may also be times in our lives when our own cultural identity comes into conflict with what we encounter in the world around us or what we feel within ourselves to be true. For instance, the person who pursued a career in science (from our example earlier) might eventually have this experience because instead of finding a career path that felt right to them, they did what their family expected of them. This tension, which is often called a cultural identity crisis, can create discomfort and even distress. Our social class identity influences how we behave and communicate towards other people. A person's class identity is not necessarily noticed until he or she encounters another person representing another social class. Our personal identity means how we perceive ourselves. Our personal identity is vital for us and we communicate and negotiate that with other people.

Sindhi culture and its importance

Culture is way of passing routine life which presents characteristics and knowledge of the group of people, society and nation. It encompasses language, cloth, what we wear, how we wear it, food, cooking, religion, music, art, farming, routines of passing daily life. Culture shows the outlook, attitudes, values, morals goals and customs shared by a society. Culture is involved in each and every activity of our society therefore, it is a strong part of people’s lives. Cultural activities are found in all human societies; these include expressive forms like art, music, dance, ritual, religion, and technologies like tool usage, cooking, shelter, and clothing.

” Culture may be based on shared ethnicity, gender, customs, values, or even objects”.

Some cultures place significant value in things such as ceremonial artifacts, jewelry, or even clothing. For example, Sindhi Ajrak, turban, cap, dress-up, marriage traditions can be considered ceremonial or cultural objects. Even the colour day more commonly called holi

Process Work

SLAB METHOD

Slabbing clay is a hand-building pottery technique that has been around for centuries. Before potters began using pottery wheels, simple tools were used to create clay pottery. Slabbing clay is a technique that includes rolling out slabs of clay and then cutting out pieces and attaching them together to create pots, cups, and urns. Once you have mastered the slab technique, the creative possibilities are endless.

SCREEN PRINTING

Screen printing is a printing technique where a mesh is used to transfer ink onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil.

Stain Process

Ceramic stains are a mixture of ceramic oxides and coloring metal oxides that are melted in kilns, quenched, ground to specific mesh size (some are acid washed), and colored with organic dyes to simulate the fired color. Essentially they are fritted colorants.

Applying stain on screen for printing on slab.

Squeegee
A squeegee or squilgee is a tool with a flat, smooth rubber blade, used to remove or control the

flow of liquid on a flat surface. It is used for cleaning and in printing.

After applying color on screen I used a squeegee for press and removed the extra color on screen then I obtained a result in the form of printing on slab.

After applying squeegee on the screen it went for printing, post printing here I am washing my screen.

Experimenting with the tile’s surface I used stain colors for washes to do abstract backgrounds to give my work a vintage feel.

After the above images and explanation here is the half process, in the images below,

Here is the process towards the final work, the work here is not baked yet. This is just part of the vintage washed tiles (the image has been printed on it).

Ceramics Press tiles

Ceramic tiles are ordinarily produced using molds in order to provide the clay with a smooth uniform shape and finish. In this project, spheres and cubes shaped clusters of clay were placed in regular intervals, and then pressed under a solid surface to create flat tile forms.
When the clay is being mashed and spread under the surface, the sphere changes its shape to a soft hexagon then I put tiles in kiln for bisque.

Before bisque

After bisque in 800c

These are the bisque tiles

Firing process

One of the most integral components in the firing manner in to be vigilant about the temperature and time. Tiles and slab in the kiln at a sure temperature turns into greater durable in distinction to the over or underneath fired
If we take out the tile after firing too early or earlier than the time the tiles and slab will be cracked but to hold them protected and bringing them out with their real from that takes some time like we can not put the tile all of a unexpected in low temperature however with the time consistency tiles mechanically absolve the warmth and get dried besides any crack. Terracotta clay temperature should be not less than 800 degree Celsius and higher 1050. After 1080 degree Celsius temperature the clay starts melting instead or firing.

Material