| Abstract: | In my master’s thesis, I examine the interrelationship and role of the surface and form of a ceramic product in relation to aesthetic outcomes achieved through alternative firing techniques. It is divided into theoretical and practical parts. In the theoretical part, I discuss and explain the concepts of ceramic technology and the ceramic object, as well as the field of alternative firing techniques. The aesthetics of a ceramic object are based on its expressive surface and form, while its technological design is determined by the inherent properties of its material. Clay is an ideal modeling material that, when fired at high temperatures, transforms into a durable, hard, and porous ceramic. The historical development of human ceramic activity began as early as the Neolithic period with primitive firing methods, which primarily served practical needs for food storage. With the use of clay coatings to eliminate the porosity of ceramics and the stabilization of living conditions, however, the focus shifted toward decorating ceramic surfaces and creating more complex ceramic forms. In contemporary art, as a response to technological advances and the oversaturation of commercial production, such ancient and traditional approaches have begun to regain prominence, as contemporary ceramic artists seek original and aesthetically more exciting modes of expression through alternative firing techniques. Alternative methods, such as raku firing, pit firing, barrel firing, and saggar firing, create unique, unrepeatable, and unpredictable aesthetic effects. The final aesthetic results are subject to random factors, as soot, smoke, and the carbonization of the material on the ceramic surface leave dynamic color traces, linear patterns, and surface textures. At the same time, the expressive possibilities of clay are combined with the spontaneous action of fire. In the practical part of my work, I build upon current findings and explore the role of the surface and form of the ceramic piece in the effects that arise in the pit firing and foil saggar techniques, which are the chosen media for conducting this practical research. I conduct five test firings and a final firing, during which, based on a synthesis of all the findings obtained, I create a series of final products. |
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