Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Tenuous
Summary
Tenuous (2016) is a large screen print on Keaykolour Original China White 300 g/m2 paper at 100 x 70 cm, made with screen print ink, Quink ink, bleach and acid. Hand-finished, signed and numbered in an edition of 250, its scale gives Vhils' corrosive portrait technique room to breathe.
Why It Matters
At 100 x 70 cm, Tenuous is one of the larger hand-finished screen prints in Vhils' catalogue, letting the bleach-and-acid erosion register across a generous surface. The title's suggestion of fragility plays against the physicality of the corrosive process, capturing his theme of images on the verge of dissolution.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 250 at large format makes Tenuous a substantial paper work, with hand-finishing ensuring impression variation. Collectors should assess the corrosive effects across the bigger sheet and confirm the signature, numbering and pristine condition of the China White stock, as large sheets show handling more readily.
Historical Context
Produced in 2016 under the Vhils name, Tenuous belongs to the hand-finished screen-print body of work in which Alexandre Farto scaled up the eroded aesthetic of his public portraits. Its large format anticipates the ambitious paper editions he continued to produce in later years.
FAQ
What size is Tenuous?
It is a large print at 100 x 70 cm on Keaykolour Original China White 300 g/m2 paper.
What is the edition size?
250, hand-finished, signed and numbered.
How is it made?
A screen print worked with Quink ink, bleach and acid for individual corrosive surface effects.
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.