Symbolism of selected visual art forms in the Bole Traditional Area
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Date
2004-11-23
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Abstract
Symbolism of Selected Visual Art Forms in the Bole Traditional Area
Many symbolic visual art forms exist in the Bole Traditional Area, but these have not been documented nor their symbolism explained. This study focuses on selected visual art forms in the Bole Traditional Area and categorises the symbolism of the selected art forms and document in detail the various meanings, value and philosophy behind them.
The aim is to explain the indigenous wisdom and knowledge the people of Bole repose in these art forms and to suggest ways of using the research findings for art and general educational purposes.
The choice of illustrations and descriptions has been guided by the intension of simplifying and clarifying the significant meaning and value attached to the various symbols.
The descriptive survey method with interviewing and limited questionnaire administration were employed to gather dater for the research.. The problem the thesis seeks to solve is that documentation is lacking in the Bole Traditional Area, especially, in the symbolic visual art forms. The main objective of the author is therefore to document the symbolism of some selected visual art forms in the traditional area. The writer therefore seeks to identify and categorise the types of symbols the selected art forms contain and document in details the various meanings of these symbols. He also intends to research into the symbolic values and explain the philosophy, wisdom and knowledge behind the symbolism in the art forms of the traditional area and also suggest ways of using the research findings for art and general educational purposes. The choices of illustrations and descriptions have been guided by the intention of simplicity and clarity.
The descriptive survey method was used for gathering and reporting the data.
The situation can be attributed to low education of the area and an apparent bias documenting symbolic art forms in Ghana. The lack of documentation was also found.
The situation can be attributed to low education of the area and an apparent bias documenting symbolic art forms in Ghana. The lack of documentation was also found to affect the teaching of visual arts in the area negatively. The symbols found in the study were mostly locally produced and are based on the vegetation of the place, although a few were imported ones
The traditional priests, heads, chiefs and elderly people were found to be the best interpreters of the meanings and symbolism of the art forms, most of who were illiterates. The symbolic visual art forms were either symbols themselves or they represented animals, birds or human images.
Not all the symbolic visual art forms could be explained satisfactorily. Reasons have been given for this phenomenon.
Description
A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Arts in Art Education, 2004