Let’s chat a bit about Fragments by Vhils. This work isn’t just a relief to be seen, but a relief to be felt. Vhils paints on walls, but rather than painting, he carves into them. With chisels and even explosives, he uncovers layers of stories buried in the urban landscape.
But what makes Fragments so special? And who is Vhils, the artist behind it? Let’s explore how this incredible piece captures the soul of city life and why it’s touched hearts worldwide.
Who Was Vhils?
Meet the man behind the art. Alexandre Farto, better known as Vhils, was born to Portuguese parents in Lisbon in 1987. Like many teens, he started with graffiti, painting walls late at night. Instead of sticking to spray cans, he began to scratch walls, as opposed to painting them.
He grew up to become one of the most original artists of our time. But his work isn’t only about making something beautiful; it’s about getting the stories from the walls. Though he’s now globally traveled, he spread his art over the world from Lisbon to Paris, New York, and Hong Kong throughout several years.
FUN FACT: Vhils once used explosives to create a portrait of astronaut Yuri Gagarin on a wall in Russia!
His Career
With his Scratching the Surface series, Vhils became famous. He carves faces into walls using drills, chisels, and even explosives. His portraits are not just random people, but the emotions, and the histories behind each city.
Vhils has also experimented with other materials like wood, metal, and paper. However, no matter the medium, his focus is always the same: connecting people to their environment.
What Is Happening in Fragments?
| Artist | Alexandre Farto (Vhils) |
| Date Created | 2014 |
| Medium | Wall carving, explosives, drills, chisels |
| Genre | Urban art |
| Period | Contemporary |
| Dimensions | Site-specific (varies based on location) |
| Series / Versions | Part of the Scratching the Surface series |
| Where is it housed? | Multiple locations, including Lisbon, Paris, and Hong Kong |
Fragments at first seem like an old wall. But step closer. There are faces—soft, thick, and filled with records. These faces aren’t painted on; they’re carved right into the wall, with chisels and even explosions pushing space and texture.
Fragments are a set of faces that feel alive like they could watch the world around them. It’s not just art for Vhils, it’s about uncovering the art. He chisels away at the layers of paint and plaster to uncover the stories trapped behind the wall.
What’s So Special About Fragments?
Here’s what we love about Fragments: it feels real. It’s not a painting in a museum. It’s part of the city. Vhils is carving history into walls that already carry history.
Vhils doesn’t start from scratch with these faces. Almost like an archaeologist digging up a treasure, he brings them out of the wall. It’s a messy, emotional raw kind of process.
Then there’s his use of explosives. His work is shaped by controlled blasts. It mirrors the urban life itself: the mix of destruction and creation. Cities are tough but also filled with life and story.
Interesting Facts About Fragments
Here are some cool things you might not know about Fragments:
Explosives Are Key: Vhils uses small, controlled blasts to carve his portraits. Art with a bang!
Built From Layers: Each face in Fragments comes from peeling back layers of plaster, paint, and concrete.
Worldwide Reach: Versions of Fragments are found in cities all over the globe, from Lisbon to Paris to Hong Kong.
Eco-Friendly: Vhils doesn’t use new materials. Instead, he works with walls that already exist. Très responsable!
Graffiti Roots: You can still see his graffiti-inspired energy in the raw, unfinished look of his work.
Artwork Spotlight: Triumph
One of his most striking works, “Triumph,” is also available on Singulart. This artwork shows how art can capture both struggle and hope.
Are you looking for a piece of artwork from Vhils?
Singulart has limited edition prints of Vhils. If you are looking for a piece of Vhils‘ artwork for sale, simply click on the artwork or the button below to discover more!
FAQs
1. What inspires Vhils’ unique carving technique?
Vhils is inspired by his love for urban environments. He grew up in Lisbon, where graffiti, posters, and weathered city walls led him to wonder what other walls could be made of.
2. How does Vhils decide on the faces he carves?
His subjects are often real people, common faces not celebrities, and he uses real people’s faces. The portraits he paints reflect the empathy and willpower of regular people.
Conclusion
Fragments are not just artwork, it’s a reminder to stop and look closer. The next time you walk past an old wall, consider what stories it might tell. Vhils proves that art isn’t just locked away in museums, it is everywhere.
So, what do you think? Would you love to see Fragments in person? We know we would. After all, it’s not just about seeing art; it’s about feeling it. Alors, let’s keep exploring the beauty of the unexpected.
