CONTEMPORARY MANIFESTATIONS OF TRADITIONAL SKILLS AND LOCAL CRAFTSMANSHIP IN LATVIAN CERAMICS
CONTEMPORARY MANIFESTATIONS OF TRADITIONAL SKILLS AND LOCAL CRAFTSMANSHIP IN LATVIAN CERAMICS

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the significance of traditional skills and local craftsmanship in Latvian ceramics, with a particular focus on their contemporary expressions in amateur art. Modern ceramics are diverse in their forms and applications, but author here focuses on the preservation and application of traditional skills. A qualitative case study approach is applied here, analysing specific cases in Riga and Ogre to assess the role of conventional skills in contemporary ceramics in Latvia. Despite the availability of distance learning opportunities, territorial belonging is still characterised by local preferences regarding ceramic materials, processing and firing technologies, as well as close links with regional traditions. The knowledge and skills of local craftsmen, passed down from generation to generation and acquired through training, are also important. The author aims to determine whether contemporary ceramicists employ traditional techniques and their specific features in the local context, and to analyse the economic, social, and aesthetic aspects of these skills.

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