Mêlées is the first monograph devoted to the work of Olivier Vadrot (1970).

This book, enriched by interviews and extensive iconography, traces a career path that has been shaped at the crossroads of many fields: architecture, design, curating and exhibition scenography, theater, and music.

While studying architecture, Olivier Vadrot embarked on the collective adventure of the Théâtre Pluzdank. He co-founded the contemporary art center La Salle de bains in Lyon, then the Cocktail Designers group, within which he designed several listening devices for music labels. His stay at the Villa Medici (2012-2013) as a scenographer marked an important turning point in his career, leading him to make surveys of most ancient performance buildings. His personal practice has recently asserted itself by refocusing on micro-architectures that enable assembly. While some of these devices are nomadic and ephemeral, others have been more permanently installed in public spaces. As design historian Tony Côme points out in a text that runs throughout the book, Olivier Vadrot pays extreme attention to the material conditions of the objects he produces: manufacturing economy, multiplicity of uses including transport, assembly, storage, possible adaptations, maintenance, and renewal.

Bilingual edition (French/English)
Author: Text by Tony Côme
Book – 224 pages