BETWEEN CLAY AND MEMORIES: AN APPROACH TO THE CRAFT OF POTTERS FROM TUNJA

Abstract

For several decades the community of potters has remained an active part of the history of the city of Tunja (Boyacá Colombia) therefore, this research article aims to highlight pottery as a relevant trade in its recent development through a research work in which testimonies, experiences, relationships and reflections of its protagonists, and where the information was analysed from an approach from the fields of art and cultural heritage, to understand the significance of pottery, the land and its link with the capital of Boyacá. Through collaborative work with potters, it was possible to recognize and identify the valuations attributed to the knowledge and the product of this craft, the bricks, and their relationship with the territory. Likewise, the interviews allowed an approach to the recent background of the work and revealed problems that have been dealt with for years such as displacement, and contamination, as well as the changes that the trade has undergone over the years to survive. The importance of the pottery tradition beyond the economic sphere as an asset and tangible and intangible cultural manifestation, its aesthetic aspect, contributions, and the need to recognize these values regarding the city was highlighted.