Art Anthropology Study on Turkmen Handwoven and Handkerchiefs Motifs

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Carpet Education, Faculty of art, Arak University, Arak, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Handicraft, Faculty of art, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran.

Abstract

Abstract
Problem statement: Turkmen handwoven and handkerchiefs are a field of native arts that, while meeting the needs of life and highlighting the artistic identity, have been a vehicle for revealing beliefs through the representation of abstract motifs. The critical point in these works is the importance and exceptional attention to the semantic and belief-oriented aspects of the motifs, along with the aesthetic dimension. This issue is relatively less in other nomadic societies. In the lifestyle of Turkmen society, there is a prominent presence of ancient (shamanic) and religious beliefs, rituals, and teachings that are presented to the audience through abstract artworks. Therefore, we can do an anthropological study on the Turkmen weavers’ worldview, which presents in the paintings. This approach seeks to study and understand artworks’ content in their creators’ cultural context. So the central question of the research is, what are the anthropological characteristics of Turkmen handwoven and handkerchief motifs? And how can we study their semantics and aesthetics in terms of this aspect and Turkmen cultural contexts?
Research objective: This study attempts to examine and understand Turkmen’s handmade motifs in the context of Turkmen weaving culture.
Research method: The type of this study is qualitative and developmental and its method is descriptive-analytical with a library data collection.
Conclusion: The dominant style of painting motifs is more discrete than abstract. Also, the motifs are created relying on beliefs more than they have aesthetics (decorative) and symbolic and semantic aspects. Most of the motifs include the group of protective motifs (prayer, spell, armband), ram, local birds, and flowers (bergamot) That has a special marker and form in each tribe. Also, handmade have special functions.

Keywords

References

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The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar
Volume 19, Issue 117
March 2023
Pages 75-90

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