Portuguese street artist Vhils has taken over a Hong Kong streets and rooftops to display his 'Debris' exhibition.
Portuguese street artist Vhils has taken over a Hong Kong streets and rooftops to display his 'Debris' exhibition.
José Pando Lucas/Courtesy HOCA Foundation/Bruno Lopes
All the works are based on portraits of anonymous Hong Kong citizens that Vhils has sketched or photographed and combined together to create a new visage.
All the works are based on portraits of anonymous Hong Kong citizens that Vhils has sketched or photographed and combined together to create a new visage.
José Pando Lucas/Courtesy HOCA Foundation/Bruno Lopes
The exhibition explores Vhils' love-hate relationship with Hong Kong's metropolis.
The exhibition explores Vhils' love-hate relationship with Hong Kong's metropolis.
Bruno Lopes / Courtesy of HOCA Foundation
'Debris' features work made of neon lights, acid and styrofoam.
'Debris' features work made of neon lights, acid and styrofoam.
Bruno Lopes / Courtesy of HOCA Foundation
Vhils' first major Hong Kong piece was a portrait of a factory worker drilled into the facade of Mills6, a former cotton mill turned creative complex in Tsuen Wan. The giant face was an unexpected addition to the neighborhood, which is filled with hulking factories and concrete housing estates. "The intention was to bring the history of the place back by breaking the wall and making the invisible visible to expose the inside of the building with people that were working in the factory for so long," says Vhils.
Vhils' first major Hong Kong piece was a portrait of a factory worker drilled into the facade of Mills6, a former cotton mill turned creative complex in Tsuen Wan. The giant face was an unexpected addition to the neighborhood, which is filled with hulking factories and concrete housing estates. "The intention was to bring the history of the place back by breaking the wall and making the invisible visible to expose the inside of the building with people that were working in the factory for so long," says Vhils.
courtesy vhils
A second portrait based on a photograph of a Hong Kong factory worker at a former cotton mill in the industrial neighborhood of Tsuen Wan.
A second portrait based on a photograph of a Hong Kong factory worker at a former cotton mill in the industrial neighborhood of Tsuen Wan.
courtesy vhils
Vhils carving his art into a wall. "It's part of the creation process to destroy the things before us, even if we aren't conscious about it," says Vhils. "There is a lot of new that you can bring but there is also a lot that can be lost if you don't do it in the right way."
Vhils carving his art into a wall. "It's part of the creation process to destroy the things before us, even if we aren't conscious about it," says Vhils. "There is a lot of new that you can bring but there is also a lot that can be lost if you don't do it in the right way."
SforShot/Silvia Lopes/courtesy vhils
The cacophony of advertisements plastered across Hong Kong was rich fodder for the artist. This is one of his works created last year on Hillier Street, Sheung Wan, a neighborhood close to the Central business district. It's since been plastered over. Alongside his works on the streets, Vhils' art appears at auction. This month, his works are part of a private sale at Sotheby's Hong Kong Gallery.
The cacophony of advertisements plastered across Hong Kong was rich fodder for the artist. This is one of his works created last year on Hillier Street, Sheung Wan, a neighborhood close to the Central business district. It's since been plastered over. Alongside his works on the streets, Vhils' art appears at auction. This month, his works are part of a private sale at Sotheby's Hong Kong Gallery.
courtesy vhils
Vhils carved this striking image into a billboard on Hysan Avenue in Causeway Bay, a crowded Hong Kong commercial district, last year. The wall was quickly covered over by a fresh layer of advertisements, reflecting the fast pace of the city.
Vhils carved this striking image into a billboard on Hysan Avenue in Causeway Bay, a crowded Hong Kong commercial district, last year. The wall was quickly covered over by a fresh layer of advertisements, reflecting the fast pace of the city.
courtesy vhils
A work in progress, titled 'Glimpse,' in Vhils' studio in the Hong Kong industrial neighborhood of Aberdeen. The Debris exhibition marks his first experiments with neon lights, a material he has associated with the city since watching Wong Kar-wai films as a teenager. "Those who see it everyday don't recognize it's such a beautiful [medium] and taken to such an extreme in Hong Kong," says Farto.<br />
A work in progress, titled 'Glimpse,' in Vhils' studio in the Hong Kong industrial neighborhood of Aberdeen. The Debris exhibition marks his first experiments with neon lights, a material he has associated with the city since watching Wong Kar-wai films as a teenager. "Those who see it everyday don't recognize it's such a beautiful [medium] and taken to such an extreme in Hong Kong," says Farto.
courtesy vhils
Vhils worked with local neon masters to produce these new works, which appear at the "Debris" exhibition.
Vhils worked with local neon masters to produce these new works, which appear at the "Debris" exhibition.
Vhils plastered a moving tram, a century-old form of transport in Hong Kong, with his signature work. The portraits on the facade are based on anonymous residents of the city.
Vhils plastered a moving tram, a century-old form of transport in Hong Kong, with his signature work. The portraits on the facade are based on anonymous residents of the city.
courtesy vhils
An etched metal plate being cut for a larger work, which will be shown for the first time at Debris.
An etched metal plate being cut for a larger work, which will be shown for the first time at Debris.
courtesy vhils
"The idea is to empower everyday heroes that usually don't get recognition," say Farto of his portraiture.
"The idea is to empower everyday heroes that usually don't get recognition," say Farto of his portraiture.
courtesy vhils
Vhils composes a piece of art using metal plates with images of commercial street signs, buildings and text gathered from around Hong Kong. By juxtaposing these images with portraits he points to the way in which the environment of a city impacts and shapes its inhabitants.
Vhils composes a piece of art using metal plates with images of commercial street signs, buildings and text gathered from around Hong Kong. By juxtaposing these images with portraits he points to the way in which the environment of a city impacts and shapes its inhabitants.
courtesy vhils
A work that will feature in the Debris exhibition, made of ink and bleach screen printed onto paper. Vhils took inspiration from Hong Kong residents for the show. "Sometimes I asked for portraits or pictures but sometimes people wouldn't realize [I was making sketches]," says Vhils. "It's my process. It's how I try to get a glimpse of what I can capture from the routine of everyday."
A work that will feature in the Debris exhibition, made of ink and bleach screen printed onto paper. Vhils took inspiration from Hong Kong residents for the show. "Sometimes I asked for portraits or pictures but sometimes people wouldn't realize [I was making sketches]," says Vhils. "It's my process. It's how I try to get a glimpse of what I can capture from the routine of everyday."
courtesy vhils
An etched metal plate being washed after an acid bath.
An etched metal plate being washed after an acid bath.
courtesy vhils
A sprawling diorama similar to this work will be on display at Debris. Based on an aerial view of Hong Kong, viewers will be able to make out portraits carved into the undulating building tops.
A sprawling diorama similar to this work will be on display at Debris. Based on an aerial view of Hong Kong, viewers will be able to make out portraits carved into the undulating building tops.
courtesy vhils
Vhils and his studio manager checking silkscreen prints at a factory in Hong Kong ahead of his exhibition Debris.
Vhils and his studio manager checking silkscreen prints at a factory in Hong Kong ahead of his exhibition Debris.
courtesy vhils
The test structure for an enclosed frame that will display Vhils' work on the rooftop of a ferry pier in Hong Kong. The artist plans to create a tunnel featuring a video installation and a series of rooms in which other artwork will be displayed.
The test structure for an enclosed frame that will display Vhils' work on the rooftop of a ferry pier in Hong Kong. The artist plans to create a tunnel featuring a video installation and a series of rooms in which other artwork will be displayed.
courtesy vhils
Street artist Vhils in his Lisbon studio preparing for his first Hong Kong solo exhibition, titled Debris. The citywide show includes interventions on public walls and a moving tram, and an installation on the rooftop of a ferry pier.
Street artist Vhils in his Lisbon studio preparing for his first Hong Kong solo exhibition, titled Debris. The citywide show includes interventions on public walls and a moving tram, and an installation on the rooftop of a ferry pier.
courtesy vhils