Eman Almukaimi

My research examines the Influence of European Modernism on Today's Arabic Contemporary Ceramics,The research aims to explore how modernist art tendencies have influenced the structure of contemporary Arabic ceramics. The objectives are to track the modernist influences on Arabic ceramics, explain how the formal structure of modern ceramic works by Arabic artists have been shaped by these movements, determine the impact of the tension between tradition and modernity on the framework of contemporary Arabic ceramics, examine how current art movements have influenced the form of Arabic ceramics,  understand how modernist movements have affected the composition of modern Arabic ceramics in the context of past-present tensions, and engage with the philosophical, aesthetic, and historical context of modernist art and Arabic ceramic traditions.

The literature review discusses Descartes' rationalism and its role in the rise of European modernity, as well as Baudelaire's break from classical forms that laid the foundations of modernism. It highlights how the intellectual and technological impacts of modernity have shaped the ideas and practices of today's Arabic ceramic artists. The research questions focus on understanding the influence of current artistic trends on the formal and structural aspects of Arabic ceramics, considering the tension between tradition and modernity.

The research design outlines the problem statement, methods, and analysis techniques. It emphasizes the need to study the relationship between Western and Arabic art, and the impact of European modernity on Arabic sculpture and ceramics. The study will analyze a sample of 35 representative ceramic works to uncover these influences. The potential significance lies in addressing a gap in research on the cultural exchange between East and West, and revealing the implications of European modernist concepts on artistic creativity in Arabic ceramics.

Names of Supervisors: 

• Dr Helen Gorrill
• Mrs Kate McLeod