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ISSN: 2186-8492, ISSN: 2186-8484 Print
Vol. 2 No. 3 August 2013
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AESTHETICS OF COLOUR AND DRAPERY IN DECORATIVE ARTS:
A SURVEY OF SILK-LINEN FABRICS DESIGN AND DECORATION
IN NIGERIA
Martins N. Okoro
Department of Fine & Applied Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
NIGERIA.
ttinso@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
The study delves into an aspect of decorative arts that deals with the use of draped
coloured silk-linen fabrics for design/decoration. It also shows how the colours and
the drapery of silk-linen fabrics help to stimulate and delight our senses when seen in
sitting rooms, halls, churches, social arena like wedding ceremony, rendezvous, and
other places where these coloured silk linen fabrics are used for decorations. The
major aspect of the study is based on the effects of colours, and drapery (that is also
known as folds) of silk-linen fabrics in the interior and exterior decorations. The
aesthetic aspect of these silk-linen fabrics in their varying colours and drapes in
places such as the inside of churches, inside of halls, outside of social arena as
festivals, inside of our homes (sitting rooms), and so on is looked into to show how
these coloured silk-linen fabrics decoration/designs in their colour variations,
interplay and folds, beautify the entire background of the above mentioned places.
Photographs of different draped coloured silk-linen fabrics installations were useful
visual devices for analysis and interpretation in the study. However, the absence of
these designs of draped coloured silk-linen fabrics in any of the above mentioned
places makes them not to conform to the aesthetic needs of out time especially now
that fashion is the order of the day and the ultimate. Without doubt, the effects of
colours and drapery of silk-linen fabrics decoration on these places in their opulent
splendours and adornment stimulate and delight our sensory perceptions.
Keywords: Aesthetics, Colour, Drapery, Decorative arts, linen, Fabrics© and Design
INTRODUCTION
In an unpublished key note paper “Art Historical Studies and the Challenges of the Discipline
in Africa” read at Art Historical Association of Nigerian conference at the Continuing
Education Center, University of Nigeria, Nsukka on November 28, 2007, Kunle Filani
observes that Woven fabrics, decorated surfaces, ornamental objects, baskets, pottery,
painting and sculpture are classified as aspects of art. These art objects are motivated and
derived for cultural, social, political and religious purposes. Art is however (measured and)
generally defined by its aesthetics value which inspires in us the passionate appeal. It
challenges our passion. It is through this challenge that we begin to understand better what a
work of art is. A means of understanding a work of art is to situate it in the environment in
which it was created, especially the audience for which it was made. The above assertion is in
line with what Ikejiani-Clark (2004: 7) posits: Artistic impressions are product of
environmental stimuli. Commenting on the significant of art to the society, Ola Oloidi in Art
Appreciation lecture mimeograph, “The Art of Black Africa: Readings in African Traditional
Art” asseverates thus: