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

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.

[@richardwilliamsiv3778]

What a true artist. Amazing work, unique materials, and always experimenting.

[@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!

[@toohoney8674]

Man. His creativity is inspiring. Really awesome. I want to watch him from beginning to the end of his artworks

[@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.

[@suicide19915]

There are ALOT more, we're all over the world. The problem is most just get arrested for vandalism. What one calls art another calls destruction. Why do you suppose the majority hide their identity?. If you don't see us, it's because you're not looking.

[@sierra7202]

@@suicide19915 I'll never understand how anyone can see what you're doing as that. You take rundown buildings and add something beautiful on the side or take billboards with nothing on them but washed away materials and add to them.

[@TheAcenightcreeper]

Yeah, same thing basquiat did 35 years ago...super original...

[@suicide19915]

@@TheAcenightcreeper I'm betting you also like banksy too though. 😂

[@CEETIZEN]

His Art is awesome I love the natural decay rusty❤

[@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.

[@user-ci7de7kp6u]

He’s one of the greatest street artist with an awesome unique idea

[@TENZING_]

Vhils is amazing. I had the opportunity to assist him on a wall

[@urmomsfriend4909]

Yea this dude has a crazy style. I’m in love w his work now right on

[@servidig483]

Hey, some actually quality content on here, nice.

[@lady_in_dark_green]

I admire his work so much! Thank you for portraying Serhiy Nihoyan in Kyiv dear Vhils!

[@jaimedelgado7529]

Who is Serhiy ?

[@lady_in_dark_green]

@@jaimedelgado7529, an amazing gentleman who was the first to be shot on Maydan during the Revolution of Dignity in Kyiv (winter 2013-2014).

[@lady_in_dark_green]

@@jaimedelgado7529, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serhiy_Nigoyan

[@jaimedelgado7529]

@@lady_in_dark_green thank unfor your Reply. I just saw a piece called "The revolution-inspired graffiti changing the face of Kiev - in pictures" where they showed all these beautiful murals by various artists from all over including the one you mention here by Vhils , can't help but feel sad to think many of these have probably been reduced to rubble by now

[@lady_in_dark_green]

@@jaimedelgado7529, well they are all intact now, thank God and Ukrainian Army😅

[@topemeister3000]

Yep, that’s it Chief. That’s it.

[@ehk8882]

I didn't know him, superb work, thanks HB

[@formigac9506]

Walk on Lisbon streets and see this amazing work make me happy 👏

[@atepaco]

Such a Masterpiece, he is portuguese as well, how great!

[@johnsmithington3167]

Why does his nationality add to the enjoyment? Identity politics are so fucking boring. His print process is cool, not so into the subjects. Oh hypebeast, that explains the comment section.

[@atepaco]

@@johnsmithington3167 simply because I'm portuguese as well, it's good to get the deserved recognition abroad.

[@soheilhooshmandi3076]

impresive ! 🙏

[@DeeLope333]

Love this. Emotive art ❤

[@rudybigboote3883]

Why, why... am I not this creative and talented?😢

[@hezkycahyadi4121]

This guy talented af

[@sandrosantos3622]

Such creative artist. Amazing work, congrats.

[@djaktube]

Portugal!

[@felicao16]

What a Studio ❤️

[@bolmuroturo189]

Inspiration ✨

[@ricardonunes3167]

ORGULHO EM SER PORTUGUÊS

[@thomasking1473]

Fantastic !

[@cassiehannah]

loooooove!

[@siranthony5598]

Legend 🙏

[@twista101287]

Wooooow!!! 🔥👌👑🤜

[@raymiemac71]

Fantastic Dude.

[@rizkoots]

Amazing 👌👌

[@Navible]

SICK 👌👌👌

[@nkbbk2749]

Realy cool

[@goodfriendshalini]

Amazing

[@JoseDiaz-ml3cp]

Gran artista y Novedoso

[@escapejudgement]

This is amazing. This is the truth.

[@jaimedelgado7529]

Mind-blowing talent, beautiful concept

[@samlopez2249]

Genius

[@albertdavis4997]

Wow best

[@blendedshapes8353]

Great story

[@nicorose4814]

One could say he was looking for "relief"😉

[@fabioguimaraes2614]

🔥🔥🔥🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹

[@_atanudas]

👏Salute

[@PerryLevy]

GOAT

[@BRILL-vb1jy]

4:36 I hope the local kids skate that

[@afonsomarto6587]

Its defenetly possible Ive seen it done with bmx's But anyways its not popular because of the cobblestone and also thats a portrait of a national hero "Amalia" so people tend to respect it

[@pedroantonio3909]

@@afonsomarto6587 wouldn't say hero but definitely Symbol

[@afonsomarto6587]

@@pedroantonio3909 ela nao ta no panteao nacional?

[@enocguerrero9408]

Nice

[@ricardoferreira5041]

god tier

[@bydannypalma]

he looks somewhat depressed and tired of the world’s bullshit. i’m happy we share the share the same country

[@jackfran2188]

The Don!

[@vicentemelo1860]

It's too short 😩

[@CANControlGRAFFITI]

He should do something with window etch

[@asahinaasahina1127]

❥❥❥❥❥❥❥

[@lauritsbundsbksrensen1459]

Why is this hypebeast

[@Navible]

Soo much better than Banksy

[@sommasculpture]

Very fucking talented

[@g-cloud4599]

He has a brilliant mind, but he walks about bored, an interesting individual.

[@erniedawg]

I wonder if he’s damaging the integrity of these structures. Maybe a structural engineer can respond if the physics of these bricks on buildings is now damaging the entire building.

[@helenaquinn7480]

Really? Half inch scratches... Ernie.

[@erniedawg]

@@helenaquinn7480 With how many thousands of pounds of pressure?

[@fraserenglish6226]

@@erniedawg if a buildings structural integrity is ruined by some chips away at the wall i don't wanna be in that building.

[@erniedawg]

​@@fraserenglish6226 So lets say theses small chips, lead to small fragments, that when some seismic activity occurs leads to cracks. Since an entire side of the building is chipped away, these cracks meet together. Would your opinion change knowing this could possibly happen? Would you chance being pancaked to jelly?

[@sheepdog6020]

This is a really good question crack the brick mortar and one shakes loose as your admiring the art then crack a brick in your face

[@joaoaoj100]

Portugal caralho!

[@oreohope1]

WOW. THIS GUY IS BAD AZZ 👍👏🏼👍👏🏼👍👏🏼👍👏🏼👍👏🏼👍👏🏼👍👏🏼👍👏🏼👍👏🏼👍👏🏼👍👏🏼

[@afonsosilva9928]

BACALHAU CRLH

[@gultaj9835]

What would he do in world war 2 ?

[@TheRacolini]

Layers

[@canowisdom4110]

Can't take that off with a new coat of paint

[@murraym7978]

First boom cmon

[@GabrielDipo]

Tchaikovsky if he was sculptor

[@user-rt4og9ci2o]

mm its breaking the walls-

[@Nicklukens]

Fools straight up used call of duty for background ambience

[@ohsobee]

@perfay_official

[@Kaasbaas045]

My dad would whoop my ass if id did this to his house

[@TheJennyWalaShow]

Portuguese jokes are popular in Hawaii.

[@juicy_spidy_nipz3760]

How is it that fucking guys collecting shoes for a couple months have more views and recognition then these types of people. I give up

[@Connallb]

Cool as fuckkkk but that guy is using a chisel for wood. U need a teeth tool mate

[@kristijanmaksimovic3758]

I can draw a stickman

[@officialdislikebutton9712]

First you put a stencil. Then chip away. Not that complicated

[@DanielSilva-gf4kk]

Great, let's see some of your work then...

[@angeljimenez-kv6cx]

The plastic guilty early tow because push cranially charge near a sleepy question. abnormal, satisfying island

[@tezzasbigbuz3933]

Real smart gas mask for grinding wood no mask for using acids

[@tonytran5525]

he looks sad

[@rio8101]

Meh. Maybe it’s better in person. Semi original work.

[@Fnunesyou]

Portugal!