Critical Commentary for ITAP lecture- week 1

Bricolage and its use in contemporary culture

References- Wikipedia, loveandthrift.com, firewhenreadypottery.com, chgs.umn.edu, current.com, chrisdignam.com, kenflett.com.

When I first heard the word bricolage, I instantly thought of collage, and now I have researched and understood the meaning, it fits together well with my initial reaction.

It is something that can be just combined together to create a random artwork in terms of its materials, but the meaning and thought process behind it is what makes it more significant and important to the piece.

Bricolage is a discipline use in the arts to create and construct a piece of work from materials that are at an easy access to you. It originates from the French to “tinker, fiddle”, with the more extended meaning of “to make creative and resourceful use of whatever materials are at hand (regardless of their original purpose) “

It’s another version of recycling in a way really.

Clara Vuletich is from love and thrift, who have done a bricolage project with some fellow designers and creative minds. 


Clara Vuletich's work



With a project like this, you feel a sense of community and partnership, people coming together, combining all their passion and skills to create a definite original article.

A particular artist that uses bricolage as their main focus for creative their work is Ken Flett, whose work initially starts off with photographs- adding a personal element, and also treasured and interesting items he has kept for a sole purpose in creating his very expressive pieces.


Ken Flett




Ken Flett




Referring to a earlier point, in regards to its purpose in contemporary culture, the issue of recycling, climate change, being more “green” and “eco-friendly” are at the forefront of our society, and bricolage is showing us that although it is not necessarily solving this serious issue, it is creating a fun alternative, and in a way showing a different attitude towards recycling and reusing.