Portuguese street artist Vhils, renowned for his innovative creative techniques, has unveiled a street mural in Brussels, ahead of the opening of a 6-month exhibition at the city’s Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art (MIMA).
Growing up near Lisbon, Alexandre Farto, using the artist name of Vhils, has developed a unique bas-relief carving technique, hailed as one of the most compelling approaches to street art of the last decade. Using a variety of tools, from jackhammer, chisel and stonecutter’s hammer to explosive and even acid, Vhils etches walls to reveal gigantic portraits.
In a little over a week, together with his team, he completely transformed the wall of a little Brussels playground. Nestled between the central streets of the European capital, the Plaine de jeux LĂ©opold (LĂ©opold playground) is now watched over by the impressive masterpiece.
“Creating this wall has been a remarkable journey. It’s not just a piece of artwork, it reflects the vibrant and dynamic spirit of Europe. The work incorporates elements from various countries, from here, in Brussels, and beyond, as well as from the Portuguese revolution”, Vhils said at the inauguration.
Europe is a truly vital hub for cultural exchange and cooperation and, in this piece, I tried to embody that spirit.
Vhils
The carved images reveal the layers of the wall that symbolise the rich history and diverse cultures that make up European countries, Vhils explained, adding that the mural symbolises the constant movement and evolution of urban life, reflecting the achievements of different nations and highlighting the importance of cooperation and dialogue between the diverse European cultures.
Through the inclusion of a carnation flower, on the left side of the mural, the artwork is also a nod to Portugal’s Carnation Revolution, a movement that peacefully defended freedom and democracy on 25 April 1974. Through the mural, Vhils also invites passers-by to reflect on the values that guided this revolution, calling for dialogues and collaboration to build a more inclusive society.
“The mural inaugurated today evokes the values ​​defended with the Carnation Revolution, a peaceful revolution whose 50th anniversary we celebrated this year. A revolution during which we fought for freedom. Freedom of speech. Political freedom. Social freedom. Individual freedom”, said Carlos Abade, President of Turismo de Portugal.
We believe in the power of Portuguese art as a catalyst for curiosity and interest in discovering our country.
Carlos Abade, President of Turismo de Portugal
“This remarkable work of art was created by Vhils and his team. Today they live behind a testament of the Portuguese art, exporting its undeniable value beyond the Portuguese borders. Today, you are ambassadors”, lauded H.E. Jorge Tito de Vasconcelos Nogueira Dias Cabral, Ambassador of Portugal to Belgium.
The mural is included in Brussels’ “Parcours Street Art”, an initiative that celebrated its 10th anniversary last year and aims to transform the city into an open-air museum. More than 150 bold, committed and contemporary frescoes, created by Belgian and international artists, have so far been included in the project.
“More than ever, Brussels is positioning itself as an immersive artistic space, free and open to all, echoing a political desire to make culture accessible, dynamic and democratic for all audiences”, Brussels Alderwoman for Culture, Delphine Houba, said.
Following the inauguration of the mural, “MULTITUDE”, an exhibition about “our relationship with the city, the greatest human invention”, according to historian Ben Wilson, opens at MIMA on Friday, 28 June. Open until 5 January 2025, the exhibition features wall carvings, billboards, cityscapes, videos and installations from different time periods that offer a compelling insight into the Portuguese artist’s approach to the relationship between people and cities.
