Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Burst (Timed Edition)
Summary
Burst (2021) is a hand-finished screen print on Keaykolour Original China White 300 g/m2 paper, 70 x 50 cm, worked with screen print ink, Quink ink, bleach, and acid. Signed and numbered by the artist, it was issued as a timed edition, with the final run size determined by the sales window rather than a fixed number.
Why It Matters
Burst pairs Vhils's full reactive-finishing method, Quink ink, bleach, and acid, with the timed-edition release model, where demand within a set period sets supply. Despite the open format, hand-finishing guarantees each sheet is individual. It is a strong example of his corrosive portraiture from 2021, delivered through a demand-driven distribution approach.
Collector Perspective
Timed editions can yield larger runs, which usually keeps costs accessible, but the bleach-and-acid hand-finishing ensures every impression differs. Collectors should verify the total quantity fixed when the window closed. At 70 x 50 cm on archival Keaykolour China White, Burst is a display-ready work; UV-protective framing helps stabilise the reactive surface over time.
Historical Context
The timed or time-gated edition model spread among contemporary print publishers in the late 2010s and early 2020s as a way to let demand shape supply. Vhils applied his established acid-and-bleach studio process within this format in 2021, continuing the translation of his wall-erosion aesthetic onto fine paper while reaching a wide audience.
FAQ
What does 'timed edition' mean here?
It was released for a limited period, with the final edition size set by how many were ordered before the window closed.
Is each print unique?
Yes; each is hand-finished with Quink ink, bleach, and acid, then signed and numbered.
What paper and size?
Keaykolour Original China White 300 g/m2, 70 x 50 cm.
What finishing agents are used?
Screen print ink, Quink ink, bleach, and acid.
About the Artist
Vhils is the working name of Alexandre Farto, a Portuguese visual artist born in 1987 near Lisbon. He is internationally recognized for a pioneering "carving" technique in which he excavates portraits from layered walls, billboards, and surfaces using chisels, drills, and controlled explosives, effectively creating images by removing material rather than adding it. His large-scale murals appear in cities across the globe, and his studio editions translate this bas-relief, destructive-creation aesthetic into prints, laser-cut works, and mixed-media pieces. Vhils has exhibited widely and collaborated on major public and institutional projects.
Collecting Vhils at Gauntlet Gallery
What Vhils works can I collect?
Beyond his walls, Vhils produces signed, numbered studio editions including screenprints, hand-carved paper, laser-cut metal, and mixed-media relief works. Editions that preserve his signature carving texture are especially sought after. Gauntlet Gallery favors pieces in excellent condition with intact surfaces and complete documentation.
How is a Vhils piece authenticated?
We sell Vhils works with documented studio provenance, supported by the edition's signature and numbering. Each piece is photographed exactly as it will ship, including signature, edition number, and any embossing or studio marks, so details are verifiable up front.
What drives value?
Medium and technique (unique carved and relief works over flat prints), edition size, scale, condition, and documented provenance all shape price. Hand-worked, textural, and one-of-a-kind pieces carry the highest premiums.