Home-Made Europe: Contemporary Folk Artifacts

by Vladmir Arkhipov, Damon Murray (Editor), Stephen Sorrell (Editor)

For this enchanting sequel to the critically acclaimed Contemporary Russian Folk Artifacts (2006), Russian artist Vladimir Arkhipov has travelled across Europe to further his collection. The objects he has found are made by everyday people inspired to create something themselves, rather than buying manufactured goods. Many have been made in pursuit of a hobby, or because the maker had the time and inclination to construct something personal. In other cases, the objects are more vital to the maker’s livelihood. Arkhipov’s archive includes hundreds of objects created with idiosyncratic functional an Austrian ski-bob made using an old bicycle frame; a metal strip full of spikes used to deter pigeons from landing on window ledges; a beautifully painted rocking-motorbike for children; and a device from Germany that enables a musician to play three brass tubas at once. This volume features 230 individual artifacts from Albania, Austria, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine and Wales, each of which is accompanied by a photograph of the creator, their story of how the object came about, its function and the materials used to create it. With a foreword by Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller, Home-Made Europe is an essential companion to the first volume, expanding its theme with more recent objects that suggest that the charm of the home-made utilitarian object transcends even the dictates of necessity.

Genres: Art

272 pages, Hardcover

First published May 31, 2012

Reviews

[sevdah · Rating 5 out of 5]

been a while since I've seen a book as original, refreshing, though-provoking, generous, and unusual as this one: a collection of objects people make to improve their life or create, rather than buy, a personal solution to a specific problem. bonus points for the funny parts and the short stories that compliment the photos of things such as a canoe outrigger constructed out of plumbing pipes.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good follow-up to Home-Made Russia, with more make-do creations that often demonstrate artistic talent if not intent. Plus, the interviews with the creators (or occasionally their relatives) are entertaining in themselves. I’d love to know how Vladimir Arkhipov finds these people and their things.

[Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost put this book back on the shelf, thankfully I changed my mind. Necessity is the mother of invention as evidenced by the myriad of quirky items featured in this book. I laughed, I cried. I vowed to be less wasteful and try to make do more often.

[Camilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! I'd not heard of it before but a friend sent me it for Xmas saying he knew I'd love it. I read it cover to cover in one sitting but I'm going to enjoy looking over it again in the future and will be hunting down the book that precedes this.