Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Taciturn (First Edition)
Summary
Taciturn (First Edition), 2018, is a hand-finished screen print on Keaykolour Original China White 300 g/m2 paper, made with screen print ink, Quink ink, bleach and acid, in an edition of 100. Signed and numbered, each impression carries individual variation from its corrosive hand-finishing.
Why It Matters
Taciturn exemplifies Vhils' core paper technique, in which bleach and acid strip the printed surface to evoke the eroded quality of his wall portraits. As a first edition of 100, it holds a defined place among his more limited hand-finished screen prints from this period.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 100 makes Taciturn scarcer than his 300-run prints, and the hand-finishing ensures each sheet is distinct. Collectors should examine how the bleach and acid resolve on their impression and confirm the signature, numbering and the premium China White stock.
Historical Context
Produced in 2018 under the Vhils name, Taciturn belongs to the group of hand-finished, chemically treated screen prints through which Alexandre Farto brought the subtractive logic of his carved public portraits into a controlled studio edition.
FAQ
What makes Taciturn hand-finished?
After screen printing, each impression is worked with Quink ink, bleach and acid, producing individual surface variation.
How large is the edition?
The first edition is 100, signed and numbered by the artist.
What paper is used?
Keaykolour Original China White 300 g/m2 paper.
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.