Although there are many mosques where some of the traditional functions are slowly disappearing, the mosque is still the most important architectural building for Islamic countries. Islamic history has shown that the mosque was the place where all government activities happened such as political, administrative, social and educational activities in addition to its function as a place for prayer. The strength of Muslims was based on their belief and unity. My experience in this foreign country has made me conscious of my religion (Islam) in many perspectives.
My ceramic work is a reflection from that and its connection with my developing experience. Now, I am making work with a different technique than before. My past work involved a thrown technique, but now I am using a hand building technique.
The selection of the mosque minaret as a subject is very appropriate conceptually. The function of the minaret is a place for the muezzin or bilal (the person who works as the mosque assistant) to perform adhan (the calling of all Muslim people to gather at the mosque). The minaret is a central part of Muslim worship and is a most important central feature of town or city. If anyone is looking for a mosque to perform salat (prayer), it is easy to identify the location of the mosque because anyone can see the top of the minaret first. I have a strong feeling of Islam inside myself and I was trying to express this feeling into my work. What is the significance of adhan for Muslim people? Why does the adhan have an important role for Muslims? These are spiritual things, which a Muslim can feel inside.
In the early stage, I had difficulty solving some technical problems, which occurred like cracking and warping. Obviously, I have learned deeply previously about technical finishing and the appropriate clay for working with hand building. Talking about clay, I have experienced worked with different type of clays. Working with the earth stone clay was fascinating for me. This clay has given me a new experience and it was much more convenient for hand building works. I think it has solved the technical problem that I had previously, especially working with large clay form. In the early stages I had a problem to make a good twist form. The twist form of my work in the early phase was not really producing a good form. Making this kind of form was not as easy as I had imagined. It needed concentration and conscientious work. I have slowly come to understand the technical problems and solutions. Looking at different perspectives is needed to build the perfect form and as a guide to get accurate shape and form.
My past work was not too deeply involved with conceptual things. This has caused me difficulty in realising the conceptual element in my work. Conceptual development occurred when I looked at my work in different perspectives. Argument and discussion are important for developing the concept. Interaction with drawing too is important to create the perfect idea. In early ideas, I only looked at geometrical things, of course looked at the architecture only. My forms looked rigid. Now I know the significance of looking at the both views, geometrical and organic. Finally, new ideas were developed and have given life to my work.
I have incorporated elements and principles of design into my works. I have created movement sometimes with the body or decoration. This movement I am interpretating as the journey of a Muslim in his spiritual approach to God (Allah) to get His blessing. The creations of repetitions in decoration such as calligraphy and geometry show the expression of Muslim daily prayer. Each day a Muslim needs to pray five times. These repetitions of everyday prayer I have interpreted as an expression of decoration. Another of repetitions is the repetition of needles (mixed media), which form a sphere as a symbol of Muslim unity. Unity gives Muslims strength for their life and relationships and builds a strong spirit.
The consolidation of these concepts and techniques has given me a lot of knowledge how to develop a good idea. As the result, the work that I have made has developed. Movement, repetition and unity have appeared and given life to my works.
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