VHILS

We are proud to present an interview with one of the biggest names in Street art, the experimental and inovative artist Alexandre Farto aka Vhils. His work is all around the world, like recently in Hong Kong, and already was a cover for Times magazine. Vhils, besides travelling alot, shares his life between Lisbon and London.

– What you choose to drink? Coffee, Tea, Beer, Soda or something else?

Coffee or CRF.

– Where does your tag name come from?
Simply from the letters that form it.

– How do you define yourself? Artist? Street artist? Anything else?
A human being.

– How did it all start for you, and what is it nowadays?
It all started with illegal hard-core graffiti, and then things just evolved from there. Nowadays it’s all about creative destruction.

– What is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?
I don’t like routines, so I do a different thing each day.

– Street art is mostly a visually stimulating form of art. To add one more sense to it, what music would you pick to accompany your art work?
So many… but I would pick these for sure: Orelha Negra, Chullage, Sam the Kid, Branko, Allen Halloween, Dead Combo, Paus… All Portuguese bands or musicians I like.

– In all forms of art, inspiration is crucial. What is it that inspires you?
Everything. Both the positive and the negative can be good catalysts.

– What is the hardest part while working on a piece of art?
Starting it.

– Do you have an artist(s) you admire and what for?
This list could go on forever but I’ll settle for Gordon Matta-Clark, JR, Banksy, Pedro Cabrita Reis, Blu, Obey, Katharina Grosse… for doing what they did/do.

– Which cities are the most inspiring for you?
All of them are inspiring. All are rich in their layers.

– What other passions do you have apart from art?
I really enjoy listening to Music.

– Do you have a wild project that you dream of achieving some day?
Several, but you will wait to see them.

– Tell us about your art, does it include symbolisms, messages or repeated patterns?
It depends on the pieces, but yes some do.

– How long time does a piece of art work of yours usually survive for?
Depends on many factors, but some are still up since I did the first one 12 years ago.

– What do people first think of, or feel, when they see one of your works on the street?
I don’t know, but I wish I could be that person from time to time.

– Do you have a secret you would like to share with us? 🙂
Not really!

– What are your creative plans for the future?
Can’t reveal, sorry. You’ll find out soon enough.