CERAMICS

GLITTERING HISTORY
Ceramics   as solid   colourful   surfaces in two and three dimensions played
important roles in different architectural ages. It is opening new directions
in 20th   & 21 st Centuries architectural development .
Starting from south Western Asia we find it Assyrian and Mesopotamian
Architectures Using ceramic   colourful   plates in covering surfaces
shallow   pyramidical   reliefs. They used bitumen and later gypsum as mortar
for their ceramic walls and reliefs (1). These we used to record their
historical ventures of bravery and virtues of their rulers, armies and
religious sects. Gods and goddesses exemplified in human and animal
features and combinations of   both ,   constitute guards in small reliefs and
large statues, on temples pylons. They all glitter under   middle eastern   sun in
Ecclesiastical architecture. Eastern and Egyptian Roman early Christian
churches were influenced by their neighboring West Asian. They used
subjects in abstract art then in presentational forms on walls for Christ and
Madonna in ecclesiastical biblical encounters (2 )
The byzantine mosaics glimmered in S. Sofia, S .   Apoleinare   Nuovo ,   S.
Mark Venice (3), S .   Vitaly   and Ravenna churches using ceramics and
golden arches and domes .
In Islamic architecture glazed and plastered decorations and calligraphy (4)
replaced   chirs   tian   statuary. Muslim designs (5) headed to intricacy by
glimmering materials representing contrasting designs in forms in (6)
clusters and fountains in mainly geometric dynamic and planting themes .
Advances in admixtures and burning devices brought. Ceramics to form
dominating surfaces of Latin and   south   American architecture (7) morals
are worth noting .   Niemeyer ,   used it in his famous   Pumpulha   Church, Club,
House and many Public buildings in his famous capital of   Brazilia .   It
developed to use the most expressive durable   colourful   surface decorated
material. It is of no less importance in   Andalusian   Arab palaces
i nElhambra   and Cordoba which are the source of inspiration of most of its
Spanish followers, naming Gaudi whose most celebrated pieces of work
are in Barcelona (8) .