This series extends the
approach Vhils has been pursuing since the early 2000s, from his first gestures
as a graffiti artist in Lisbon to his current work on the standardisation of
urban landscapes. Layers of history and human presence are meticulously excavated
in this composition, revealing fragmented faces and narratives. The work, a
hand-carved millefeuille of advertising posters, offers a complex visual
experience in which the artist subtracts matter to create relief. Figures thus
emerge from the white surface, exposing fragments drawn from underlying poster
layers. The texture is palpable, adding to the sense of urban degradation and
the passage of time. The visual language of the piece bears witness to the
artist's ongoing fascination with the human face as a metaphor for the
anonymity of urban existence. These portraits, seemingly carved into the very
fabric of the city, evoke a sense of forgotten stories and collective memory
buried within public spaces. The scale of the work further immerses the viewer,
inviting a closer examination of its intricate details and the stories it
suggests.