| dc.description.abstract | This study deals with that category of contemporary
Kenyan art commonly referred to as "tourist art".
Essentially, the study attempts to measure ef!ects o~
commercialization and tourist patronage on production
of this modern Kenyan art. As a basis for measurement,
sampled modern productions in the FIVE areas of;
Handprinted fabrics, Stone and Wood Carvings, Pottery,
Weaving and Jewellery - were compared with sampled
traditional Kenya~ forms.
OBJECTIVES.
{
Specific objectives of this study were: to establish
evident particularit~es of modern and traditional
art forms and; to compare evident qualitative
characteristics of the two groups of forms, thereby
eBtablishi!'!; t!"~ditional qualities in modern artforms.
PROCEDURE
" ,~
This study employed two tools, namely; the interview
and observations. For the interview; a total of 75
artists and craftsmen, comprising equitable numbers
of individuals from all t~c F!VB areas of nroductions.
were interviewed a.twork in their various sampled
workshops throughout the country. Interviewees were
asked questions that sought insight into the setting
in which the arts operate. As regards observations;
a session was conducted by the researcher, with a view
to accertaining specific qu~litics of 3~~pled modern
and traditional forms and connections between these
two groups of forms. The same examined works were
presented to eighteen other competent artists and
designers for yet another round of observations. This
latter session of observations was primarily for
verification purp0ses.
Information secured ~hrough the two mentioned tools
consisted of short, often descriptive statements.
-f
Summary information from the two groups was
presented in an ind~ctive manner, with ~pecifics
first and a higher level of generalization following.
Corroboration was achieved by assessing the quantity
and quality of connections for each of the two groups
of evidence, and then for the two groups together.
Data and conclusions have, ...thereforeresepctively
consisted of specific info~mation and general
informa~ion induced from specifics.
FINDINGS.
The present system in which commercial arts and crafts
,
industry operates appears to encourage an almost
equitable balance between traditional and non-traditional
elements. This is interpreted as owing to the tourist
need for arts that they undertand and at the same time,
those sU!!i~iently in line with traditions of their
creators. | en |
