Vladimir Arkhipov’s Post-Folk Archive exhibition was an extraordinary collection of DIY inventions. It included handmade objects by people of the West Midlands, collected by Arkhipov from gardens, allotments, garages and kitchens during 2001.

Post-Folk Archive is part of an ongoing project for the artist, who has been collecting handmade objects of Russian folklore for several years. The archive includes hundreds of constructions and assemblages with idiosyncratic functional qualities, made for inside and outside the home, such as scarecrows, pitchforks, ladders, bird boxes and musical instruments. Each object embodies a ‘do-it-yourself’ ingenuity, often inspired by a lack of instant access to manufactured goods.

Supported by Visiting Arts and the European Regional Development Fund.