Vhils Artist Statement
Nationality:
Portuguese
Medium:
Street Art • Mural • Sculpture • Installation • Excavation • Mixed Media
Key Themes:
Urban Memory • Identity • Time • Decay • Transformation • Community • Human
Stories • Cities
My work explores the relationship between people, cities, and the layers of history embedded
within urban environments. I am interested in the marks that time, human activity, and social
change leave upon physical spaces. Through murals, sculpture, and experimental techniques, I
transform walls and surfaces into visual records of collective memory, revealing the hidden
stories that exist beneath the visible structures of everyday life.
The process of removal is central to my practice. Rather than adding layers of paint to a
surface, I often work by carving, cutting, and erasing material to reveal images from within. This
approach reflects my interest in uncovering forgotten histories and exploring how destruction
can become a form of creation. The surface itself becomes a document, carrying traces of time,
labour, and human presence.
The human face is a recurring element in my work. Through large-scale portraits, I seek to
represent individuals whose voices and experiences are often overlooked within rapidly
changing urban landscapes. These faces become symbols of communities, reflecting themes of
identity, belonging, resilience, and the relationship between individuals and the places they
inhabit.
Cities are the primary inspiration for my practice. I view urban environments as living organisms
shaped by constant transformation, migration, and cultural exchange. By working directly within
public spaces, I explore how architecture can become a canvas for storytelling and how art can
reconnect people with the histories and communities surrounding them.
Materiality and process define my visual language. I work with concrete, wood, metal, plaster,
and found surfaces, allowing the characteristics of each material to influence the final form. The
imperfections, textures, and marks created through excavation become essential parts of the
artwork, revealing a dialogue between human intervention and the natural aging of materials.
Ultimately, my practice is an exploration of memory, identity, and the passage of time. Through
urban interventions, sculpture, and portraiture, I aim to reveal the stories hidden within our
surroundings and create works that connect people to places, histories, and shared human
experiences.
