Vhils (1987) - Stratum

In his large-scale murals and smaller works on wooden doors and panels, Alexandre Farto, a.k.a. Vhils, combines detailed figuration with an involved material process: He tears away at his medium by drilling, chiseling, or using chemicals such as bleach, making his images (predominantly portraits) inextricable from the material itself. With this subtractive process, Vhils unites elements of painting and sculpture and reflects on how the built environment absorbs social changes and development. Vhils studied at Central Saint Martins and honed his practice as a graffiti artist.