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vhils, the alias of portugese artist alexandre farto, has completed a high-relief composition on the façade of the GS1 portugal headquarters in lisbon. vhils’ work — photographed here by fernando guerra — has been integrated into the architecture of the site, which has seen a complete overhaul by PROMONTORIO architects over the past two years. on a system of 49 pre-moulded concrete panels fixed to the building on three sides, the artist has inscribed an intricate, bas-relief illustration that changes in character as it interacts with the sun over the course of the day.

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image by fernando guerra (also main image)

 

 

vhils’ bas-relief composition draws from a variety of visual references that relate to GS1’s field of operations. using his distinctive carving technique, the artist has worked in collaboration with promontorio architects to create a dialogue between architecture and art. the composition was designed to interact with the sun, creating a variety of nuances in its nature based on the time of day, light and season in which it’s viewed. echoing the design of the recently renovated building itself, vhils’ work also offers two different readings depending on where the viewer looks at it. symbolically, the illustration seeks to propose a contemporary critique on the chaos of information, and question its disruptive role, brought into contrast by the presence of the human eye.

vhils-alexandre-farto-headquarters-gs1-portugal-lisbon-designboom-02
image by fernando guerra

vhils-alexandre-farto-headquarters-gs1-portugal-lisbon-designboom-02
image by fernando guerra

vhils-alexandre-farto-headquarters-gs1-portugal-lisbon-designboom-02
image by fernando guerra

vhils-alexandre-farto-headquarters-gs1-portugal-lisbon-designboom-02
image by fernando guerra

vhils-alexandre-farto-headquarters-gs1-portugal-lisbon-designboom-02
image by fernando guerra

vhils-alexandre-farto-headquarters-gs1-portugal-lisbon-designboom-02
image by fernando guerra

vhils-alexandre-farto-headquarters-gs1-portugal-lisbon-designboom-02
image by fernando guerra

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