Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Corpocracy (First Edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Corpocracy , released in 2010 in a signed and numbered edition of 100, is a 76 x 57 cm silkscreen print individually hand-finished with ink wash and bleach. The title signals an overtly political register, and the hand-finishing means each impression carries unique corrosion and tonal variation across the run.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Signed and Numbered Edition of 100. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The bleach-and-ink-wash finishing is central to Vhils's practice: bleach eats into printed ink the way weather and time erode a wall, embedding his theme of decay into the physical making of the print. With a pointed title like Corpocracy, this piece ties his signature erosion technique to explicit social critique.
Collector Perspective
Because every impression is hand-finished with bleach and ink wash, no two are identical, so collectors are choosing a specific object rather than an interchangeable one. Examine how the bleach interacts with the darker fields, and verify signature and numbering. Edition of 100 is moderate for the period.
Historical Context
Emerging in 2010 as Vhils gained global recognition, Corpocracy reflects the artist's roots in critiquing consumer imagery and institutional power, themes drawn from growing up amid Portugal's post-revolution urban landscape. The corporate-power title aligns with the anti-advertising undercurrent running through his poster and wall work.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2010
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print; catalog dimensions 76 x 57 cm; Silkscreen Print, Individually Hand Finished with Ink Wash and Bleach.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Signed and Numbered Edition of 100.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Vhils's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: Emerging in 2010 as Vhils gained global recognition, Corpocracy reflects the artist's roots in critiquing consumer imagery and institutional power, themes drawn from growing up amid Portugal's post-revolution urban landscape. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2010 and attributes the edition to Shop At Lazarides.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Shop At Lazarides. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Vhils — official site — Vhils studio · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Vhils — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Vhils (Q115823) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
Why is each print different?
Every impression is individually hand-finished with ink wash and bleach, so the corrosion patterns and tones vary across the edition of 100.
What does the title refer to?
"Corpocracy" points to corporate power and institutional control, aligning with Vhils's recurring social and anti-advertising themes.
What medium is it?
A signed and numbered silkscreen print, hand-finished with ink wash and bleach, measuring 76 x 57 cm.
