Acquaint 2, 2022

One of the main artists of the movement urban art (street art), Alexandre Farto (1987), better known as Vhils, continues to evolve and push his style forward by sculpting the faces of anonymous figures on a large scale, in order to reveal the hidden lower layers and the fragility of urban space. It appeared in artistic scene in 2008, by creating a revolution, through his innovative artistic practice, in which destruction is a form of construction.

Vhils became an international phenomenon, mainly due to his mural works in public place, honoring José Saramago, Zeca Afonso, among others. The space where he grew up, Seixal, an industrialized suburb on the other side of the river Lisbon (Portugal), profoundly influenced his practice due to the transformations caused by intense urban development in the 1980s and 1990s. Such as Bordalo II, Banksy It is Jean-Michel Basquiat, fIt was on the streets that the basis for his initial artistic production was formed, ending up projecting his perceptions of the outside world through his creative acts. It often carves faces in public spaces - on the side of buildings - with a variety of tools and materials that can leave a mark or remove materials, including hammers, drills, etching acid, bleach and explosives.
In addition to mural sculpture, he has also been exploring other media such as serigraphy, installation, nfts and other supports, such as advertising posters, wooden doors and metal signs that he collects from the streets.

 Works by Vhils as "Open Walls Baltimore 1”, “POW! WOW! Hawaii 2014 - King Lunalilo Mural” and “Dusk” reflect current themes in the artistic panorama, such as identity, representation, ephemerality and the individual's experience in consumer society. 

P55 Magazine x Articles Vhils