The Aesthetics of Visual Discourse in Sculptural Forms in Contemporary Global Ceramics

Abstract

The current research aims to reveal the aesthetics of visual discourse in sculptural forms within contemporary global ceramics, tracking the intellectual and aesthetic transformations of this art form in the postmodern era. The research problem addresses the intellectual foundations and aesthetic mechanisms that shifted ceramics from a functional craft to a conceptual sculptural discourse. The researcher adopted a descriptive-analytical methodology to achieve the research objectives. The research community included (73) global ceramic works produced between (2010-2020), from which a purposive sample of (3) models was selected representing diverse artistic trends (Noy Volkov, Robert Arneson, and Keira Miller)..The research reached several key findings: visual discourse in contemporary ceramics has achieved an "aesthetic displacement" through strategies of "hyper-realism" and "estrangement," transforming clay into an "open visual text" for interpretation. The results also indicated the blurring of traditional boundaries between sculpture and ceramics in favor of "conceptual realism," which explores the psychological and social dimensions of contemporary humanity. The research concluded with several recommendations and proposals for further academic studies in this field.