Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Decay
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Decay , from 2008, is a varied-edition hand-finished screen print of just 11, measuring 70 x 50 cm. With an edition this small and each impression individually finished, it stands among the rarest works in Vhils's catalogue, a near-unique object that names outright the central theme of his practice.
Collector notes: First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 11. Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
An edition of only 11 makes Decay exceptionally scarce, and its title is a direct statement of Vhils's guiding idea: that erosion, weathering, and the passage of time reveal rather than destroy. Dated 2008, it is among his earliest prints, capturing the concept at its most distilled and least mediated.
Collector Perspective
With just 11 varied impressions, this is one of the scarcest Vhils prints a collector can pursue, effectively a series of unique works. Availability is minimal and each sheet differs. Given the 2008 date and hand-finishing, condition and provenance verification are essential, as is confirming the impression's specific character.
Historical Context
2008 places Decay at the very start of Vhils's editioned output, the same period as his Cans Festival breakthrough. The theme of decay underpins his entire method of carving into and stripping back surfaces, treating deterioration as a form of revelation, an idea this early, tiny-edition print names explicitly.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2008
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print | Hand Finished; catalog dimensions 70 x 50 cm; Varied edition screen print.
- Edition details
- First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 11.
- Signature and marks
- Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering 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: 2008 places Decay at the very start of Vhils's editioned output, the same period as his Cans Festival breakthrough. 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 2008 and attributes the edition to Lazarides Editions.
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 Lazarides Editions. 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
How rare is this print?
Extremely rare, with a varied edition of just 11 hand-finished impressions.
Why is the title significant?
"Decay" names the core concept of Vhils's work, where erosion and time reveal images rather than erase them.
When was it made?
2008, among the earliest prints in Vhils's catalogue.
