A Study on the Concept of "Uncertainty" in Ceramic Art

Uncertainty is a concept at the intersection of various disciplines, such as art, philosophy, and science. Although it often has a negative connotation, it is a force that stimulates creativity. It is an essential element that encourages creative thinking in human discovery and invention processes. The human mind has endeavored to make sense of the world with quantities and numerical expressions by seeking certainty instead of abstract and uncertain relationships. This tendency can be traced back to the origins of mathematics and geometry. Ancient Greece was central to the Presocratic thinkers’ efforts to explain the basic components of the universe and events. In the 20th century, with the emergence of the philosophy of indeterminism, the concept of uncertainty brought up other concepts, such as chance, coincidence, and unpredictability in art. It paved the way for artists to address these concepts. In ceramic art, the production process inevitably involves uncertainties, which allows artists to integrate unpredictable elements and unexpected outcomes, particularly during the firing stage. In addition, it has been observed that the uncertainties created by the imitation skills of the ceramic material and the various decor methods that artists can apply to its surface and the uncertainties created by perception are frequently addressed. In this context, the concept of uncertainty is investigated in the triangle of science-philosophy-art, how it takes place in art is explained, and its role in both the production process and perception in ceramic art is analyzed.