CHAPTER 3: BATIKED FABRICS FOR INTERIOR WALL HANGINGS AS A MEANS OF DOCUMENTING AND SHOWCASING IGBO TRADITIONAL MOTIF

Abstract

INTRODUCTION 
Means and methods of wall decoration change over time and according to locality. It is common knowledge that in the past, Uli mural paintings which were paintings of uli symbols on walls of mud houses both inside and mostly outside with the use of uli dyes which served as beautification, recognition and also as a method of preserving the symbols (Ikwuemesi, 2015).  
Moreover, modern wall hanging using fabric is not entirely new but with the traditional symbols, it makes the fabric have unique value even as we convert them to wall hangings.  Recently, no one wants symbols to be drawn on his or her body but these symbols can be incorporated into the materials we use daily to make the materials unique items of value even in the foreign market (Nicholas, 1981). 
Textile materials are what we use in our day-to-day activities, the clothes we wear, the cushions we sit on, curtains in our houses and even some decorations are made of textile materials. Our traditional motifs being incorporated in these textile materials is very important especially now that foreign motifs dominate our textile materials when they are traditional ones to fit. 
The influence of modern culture is gradually wiping away traditional symbols and there will soon be nothing left to remember if we do nothing about it. Fabric is one of the first things to consider for interior decoration. 
According to Farooq and Mohammad (2021), “fabric is one of the core elements in interior design’. One cannot decorate the inside of any house without the use of fabric as it is used for curtains, wall hangings, chairs, bedspread etcetera. Fabric therefore permeates every aspect of human life and can never be overused because of its characteristics of durability, light weight, softness, re-washable and drapery.  
Uli wall decoration was indeed applied directly on olden mud houses but time brings about change and change itself begets change, so even with the new development of houses with concretes, people still long for wall decoration and beautification. 
The longing creates opportunities for different ideas and explorations and the use of fabric designed with Uli for wall decorations.

This study is about documenting Uli on fabric to be used as wall hangings with the use of Batik in other to showcase the Igbo traditional symbols. It utilises qualitative research method and involves studio experimentation which will reveal how the researcher was able to develop the finished product.