Abstract:

Considering the Neolithic Period when art began, pottery and symbolically terracotta art in particular, Anatolia, with its geography extending from Front Asia to Europe, the location which lived these periods earlier than their contemporaries, is an important area of pottery. Pottery, which has been able to continue in many parts of Anatolia without disturbing its archaeological features in terms of production style, is also an important intangible cultural heritage. Having been going on for thousands of years, this craft, unfortunately lost its existence in many centers within the process of extinction. In such a process, one of the pottery centers having the chance to be able to survive in Turkey is Avanos. Avanos, which is the district of Nevşehir province in Central Anatolia, is an important showcase of pottery producing both functional and craft / art terracotta for touristic purposes with the great support provided by its geographical advantages and the efforts of its masters as well as being an important tourism region. In this article, it is aimed to explain the historical characteristics of Avanos pottery, its contributions to contemporary art in its journey from traditional to contemporary and its economic and cultural achievements, including a critical perspective.

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