Use of birds as a source of inspiration for painterly ideas articulating domestic violence in Uganda, a case study of Bushenyi district

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of birds as a source of inspiration for painterly ideas articulating domestic violence in Uganda. The research is born out of the fact that the researcher had for a long time been observing people affected by domestic violence. He thought that the research would come in handy and help to address the problem by sensitizing people about domestic violence. Women have been physically tortured, some have been victims of acid attacks, children have been abandoned and left at the mercy of whoever may care, couples have for a long time denied each other of sex, and young girls have been forced into marriage. Therefore, the study arose out of the researcher's experience and the urgent need to arrest such situation that threatens the continued peaceful family life. Artists have tried to articulate domestic violence, but they have been limited by their scope of selecting visual symbols that can represent situations through painting to forms they are familiar with, particularly, the human figure. This has limited their creativity in articulating domestic violence in a society that is rapidly changing and becoming more sophisticated. Artists for instance had not yet effectively demonstrated the symbolic use of birds through painting in the articulation of domestic violence. The researcher undertook a practical project which analyzed and explored the studio possibilities of using birds as sources of inspiration for painterly ideas articulating domestic violence. Five Chapters have been presented as a supportive guide to the practical work accomplished under this project. Chapter one displays the objectives, purpose, the magnitude of the problem, and the beneficiaries of the study. Chapter two states what is already in place related to the study. Chapter three defines the methodology and materials used in the study, whereas chapters four and five focus on the results, conclusions and recommendations.