Alexandre Farto VHILS / FESTIVAL IMINENTE Selection May 2020
Alexandre Farto VHILS / FESTIVAL IMINENTE Selection May 2020
Vhils came into the world as Alexandre Farto in Seixal, an industrialised suburb across the river from Lisbon. He began writing graffiti in the 1990s at the age of 10. Tagging became a way to fill time, something to do on the way to school, a byproduct of friendship. When he reached 13, he became obsessed with train-bombing Lisbon’s suburban line. He wound up skipping a lot of school in that pursuit, joined the 2S/3D and LEG crews, and increased his “street reach.” Vhils expanded to lines outside of Lisbon, beyond Portugal, and finally across all of Europe. The portfolio of Portuguese artist Vhils is unique among the world’s street community, his unique approach and artwork have been garnering critical acclaim around the globe. He is also the founder and curator of the Festival Iminente, a festival that combines art and music and that exists in London and Lisbon.