Summary of - From Anthropology to Artistic Practice: How Bricolage Has Been Used in the Twentieth Century as an Ideal Model of Engagement with the World
Document Type
Article
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to return to the concept of bricolage as theorised in 1962 by the French anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss and examine its presence and utility in the art and architectural history of the 20th century. While Lévi-Strauss was the first theorist to present bricolage as an analogy for the creation of mythical thought amongst indigenous cultures, the concept has seen a wide range of conceptual, methodological and practical applications across different fields including design, the visual arts, urban planning and the built environment. This paper will examine the applicability of bricolage as a technical metaphor for the creative process and its relevance to artistic creation, by tracing its trajectory over the course of the 20th century. It will evaluate the significance of objects and events of ‘everyday life’ in the creative practices of contemporary artists, and draw attention to the emerging role of the architect as bricoleur or improviser, in order to conclude that it was the art of the ‘ordinary’ that gave creative inspiration to 20th century artists and architects to engage with the materiality and past experiences of the world. It will finally present to the reader the argument that bricolage has existed in the Indian context as jugaad or an unconventional approach to problem-solving that uses limited materials in an innovative manner in a very localised version of resource-bricolage.
Publication Date
2023
Recommended Citation
Kini-Singh, Amita Kini-Singh, "Summary of - From Anthropology to Artistic Practice: How Bricolage Has Been Used in the Twentieth Century as an Ideal Model of Engagement with the World" (2023). Open Access archive. 9283.
https://impressions.manipal.edu/open-access-archive/9283
