Alexandre Farto aka Vhils (1987)
Alexandre Farto (Vhils) is a Portuguese painter and graffiti artist, born in Lisbon in 1987. He grew up in Seixal, on the South of the Tagus, where he began his relationship with graffiti at the age of 10 and started painting on the streets and on trains at the age of 13, first in Portugal and then through several cities in Europe. Influenced by the urban context and the banks of the city, Farto began his artistic journey in the graffiti universe, but soon went further, exploring different techniques and tools. and materials. He started working with advertising posters, covering them with white ink and excavating layers of accumulated ads. This "creative destruction" technique, as he calls it himself, has become one of his trademarks. He also started to sculpt walls, creating portraits and embossed images using heavy tools such as pneumatic and even explosive hammers.
In 2008, Vhils moved to London to study Fine Arts at Central Saint Martins, where he He graduated in 2008. Based on his experience in the city, he began to stand out in the urban art circuit, being invited to exhibit at important events such as the Cans Festival (organized by Banksy), where one of his works was shown alongside a work by the famous graffiti artist. From there, his art gains international projection, with invitations to exhibit his works in galleries such as Lazarides Gallery, London, and Studio Cromie, Italy.
Vhils is known for his sculptures of anonymous faces on walls and facades. From abandoned buildings, techniques that explore the contrast between the new and the old, in addition to approaching social and cultural issues in a poetic and profound way. The central concept of his work revolves around the idea of "creative destruction", where he uses the removal of historical and cultural layers to reveal something hidden, something of the past. He also films the entire process of creating his works, highlighting the importance of the artistic process.
Vhils' interventions are spread across several cities around the world, such as Lisbon, Porto, London, Berlin, Moscow, New York, Los Angeles, Bogotá, Medellín and Grottaglie. In Brazil, his works can be seen in spaces such as the LX Factory and at the Fábrica do Braço de Prata, in Lisbon. In 2012, the artist recreated a Portuguese guitar for the Tudo Isto é collection... and also created serigraphs and art installations. In a video for the song M.I.R.I.A.M., which combines his art with the sound of one of the best known bands in Portugal. Selected Works 2005–2010, which brings together a selection of his works on surfaces such as metal and wood, documenting his evolution and artistic approach. its creative frontiers, becoming one of the most recognized urban artists worldwide.
