CHAPTER X. INTERDISCIPLINARY THERAPEUTIC CERAMIC ART PROJECTS: APPLICATIONS IMPLEMENTED AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS Özlem ÖZER TUĞAL
INTERDISIPLINARY INTERACTIONS IN CERAMIC ART, Doç. Dr. Betül AYTEPE SERİNSU,Assoc. Prof. Dr. Betül AYTEPE SERİNSU • Orcid: 0000-0002-6853-9219, Editör, Livre.net , Lyon, ss.197-226, 2025
- Yayın Türü: Kitapta Bölüm / Mesleki Kitap
- Basım Tarihi: 2025
- Doi Numarası: 10.5281/zenodo.17319077
- Yayınevi: Livre.net
- Basıldığı Şehir: Lyon
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.197-226
- Editörler: Doç. Dr. Betül AYTEPE SERİNSU,Assoc. Prof. Dr. Betül AYTEPE SERİNSU • Orcid: 0000-0002-6853-9219, Editör
- İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa Adresli: Evet
Özet
Introduction Ceramic art is considered more than just an aesthetic production area; it contributes to the lives of individuals and communities through its interdisciplinary and therapeutic functions. Thanks to its tactile and three-dimensional structure, ceramics offers individuals the opportunity to express their feelings and thoughts, while also serving as a therapeutic tool that intersects with psychology, education, and the social sciences. Various studies in the international literature have demonstrated that creative processes with clay reduce levels of depression, stress, and anxiety, while increasing self-awareness and well-being. In this context, ceramics, through its social participation and collective production processes, is gaining importance not only as a tool for individual healing but also as a tool for cultural transmission and social solidarity. In this respect, research into ceramic art is crucial for revealing its healing and transformative effects on both the individual and societal levels. In Türkiye, interdisciplinary ceramic projects that emphasize the therapeutic aspect of art are gaining increasing importance. The ceramic art therapy workshops run by Özlem Özer Tuğal are among the most prominent examples in this regard. Tuğal’s goal is to enhance ceramics’ role as both a tool for individual therapy and social connection, providing participants with a safe and accessible artistic environment where they can express their feelings. As a result of the workshops, participants observed a decrease in stress and anxiety, 197 198 INTERDISIPLINARY INTERACTIONS IN CERAMIC ART increased self-confidence, and an improvement in social interaction and sense of belonging. This demonstrates that ceramics contributes not only to individual healing but also to social solidarity and cultural transmission. This article aims to examine interdisciplinary ceramic art projects conducted nationally and internationally from an art therapy perspective. The study explores the healing power of clay, the role of ceramics in art therapy practices, project examples, and the outcomes of workshops led by Özlem Özer Tuğal. This paper demonstrates how ceramic art is positioned as a multidimensional interdisciplinary practice that mediates not only individual repair processes but also social healing. A successful example that embodies this context is the “We Live with Our Differences, Overcoming Obstacles Together” project, implemented by the Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa TBMYO Handicrafts Department. Designed for middle school students with special needs, the project allowed participants to express their inner worlds through ceramic materials. Workshops conducted under the guidance of university students helped students reduce their stress and anxiety levels, strengthen their self-confidence, and gain emotional awareness. Group activities developed cooperation, empathy, and collaboration skills, integrating individual healing processes with social awareness and collective production awareness. The ceramic panels resulting from the project were displayed as permanent works on the administrative floor of Bakırköy Cumhuriyet Middle School, making the students’ creative processes visible and contributing to the development of awareness, appreciation, and social sensitivity within the school community. In this respect, the “We Live with Our Differences, Overcoming Obstacles Together” project can be considered a completed and exemplary application that embodies the healing effects of ceramic art on both individual and societal levels