Vhils Uses Explosives, Chemicals and Power Tools to Create Fine Art | HypeArt Impressions

HYPEBEAST
HYPEBEAST
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Published 2020-02-07
Alexandre Farto, aka VHILS, is renowned for his monumental relief portraits in locations across the globe. Since the early 2000s, the Portuguese artist has spearheaded countless projects spanning graffiti, street art, site-specific works, installations, and the creation of“destructive” printed materials such as bleach prints coated with acid.

The artist’s relationship with materials is both intuitive and profound. From using the natural decay of rusty metal doors to accentuate his portraits to arranging fluorescent lights in an abstract pattern to evince a human form, the artist champions a natural approach to developing his signature creations. “I never know [how the artwork] is going to end up. I have an image in my head, but when I carve the wall, I never know what I’m going to discover.”

Throughout his boundary-pushing practice, VHILS aims to humanize public spaces with chiseled portraits of random passersby that reside in the region he is working in while experimenting with new materials to expand his artistic worldview. “All your dreams, expectations of life, happiness, and freedom are shaped by everything around us. That’s where a lot of the work started and there is a lot of that connection to humanity and humanizing the public space,” he said to HYPEBEAST.

We connected with VHILS at his studio in Barreiro, Portugal for the latest installment of HYPEBEAST Impressions. Watch the video above to see the entire visit with the artist.
All Comments (21)
  • @sierra7202
    He takes discarded, rotting materials & things others consider trash and turns them into beautiful works of art. We need more people who see the world as he does. He's a true artist.
  • @toohoney8674
    Man. His creativity is inspiring. Really awesome. I want to watch him from beginning to the end of his artworks
  • @user-ci7de7kp6u
    He’s one of the greatest street artist with an awesome unique idea
  • @malikbenachour3511
    He has this sad look washed across his face. And the way he uses tools of aggression to peel away layers to find these honest faces trapped within everyday walls is really poetic. Its almost as if he's trapped within himself and he creates to pull back the layers that hide his true self, but he can never really find himself... exhausted and depressed.
  • @jacintasntos
    Orgulho em ter um artista português tao bom e capaz de mostrar a sua arte para fora, cumprimentos de uma artista portuguesa para um artista português!
  • @TENZING_
    Vhils is amazing. I had the opportunity to assist him on a wall
  • @CEETIZEN
    His Art is awesome I love the natural decay rusty❤
  • @servidig483
    Hey, some actually quality content on here, nice.
  • @atepaco
    Such a Masterpiece, he is portuguese as well, how great!
  • @urmomsfriend4909
    Yea this dude has a crazy style. I’m in love w his work now right on
  • @lady_in_dark_green
    I admire his work so much! Thank you for portraying Serhiy Nihoyan in Kyiv dear Vhils!
  • @ehk8882
    I didn't know him, superb work, thanks HB
  • @formigac9506
    Walk on Lisbon streets and see this amazing work make me happy 👏