Ulsan Museum of Art Hosts Solo Exhibition by Portuguese Artist VHILS to Celebrate UNESCO World Heritage Inscription of Bangudae Petroglyphs

August 14 - November 2, Exhibition Hall 2, Ulsan Museum of Art
"Reconstructing Time and Memory Engraved on Urban Surfaces"

The Ulsan Museum of Art will host a solo exhibition by the world-renowned Portuguese artist VHILS (real name Alexandre Farto), titled 'Graphium GRAPHIUM,' from August 14 to November 2 in Exhibition Hall 2, located on the second basement level of the museum.

'Graphium' is a Latin word referring to an ancient Roman writing instrument used to inscribe letters on wax tablets. Derived from the Greek word 'grapheion,' it means 'to write' or 'to engrave.'

This exhibition commemorates the inscription of the Bangudae Petroglyphs as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It presents a contemporary art platform that connects past and present, nature and city, memory and identity, using the act of 'engraving' as a medium.

Since beginning his career as a graffiti artist in the early 2000s, VHILS has established an aesthetic of 'creative destruction' through his unique bas-relief technique, which involves carving into walls and scraping away surfaces.

Employing not only hammers, chisels, and power drills, but also explosives and corrosives, he deconstructs urban surfaces to reveal hidden layers of time, the faces of ordinary people omitted from historical records, and collective memories.

His works have been left on the exterior walls of buildings, demolition sites, billboards, and discarded materials in major cities around the world. He is widely known for visualizing the memories of anonymous individuals and local communities.

The 'Graphium GRAPHIUM' exhibition is organized into seven sections: Surface Scratching Project, VHILS' Tools, Bangudae Petroglyphs Tools, VHILS' Materials, Billboard Series, City of Slow Time, and Explosion and Debris.

The exhibition encompasses a wide range of media and formats, including sculptures that combine epoxy, wood, and stone; videos capturing moments of explosion; and installations that reconstruct dismantled billboards.

In particular, a prehistoric whale bone, on loan from the Ulsan Petroglyph Museum, will be displayed in one section of the exhibition. This artifact, which demonstrates that the whale figures in the petroglyphs were based on real animals, brings to life the relationship between humans and nature from 7,000 years ago, connecting past and present, record and art.

An official from the Ulsan Museum of Art stated, "'The Bangudae Petroglyphs' are among humanity's earliest records left on rock surfaces and exemplify the original act of 'engraving.' VHILS' work traverses past and present, material and memory, prompting us to reflect anew on the identity of the cities we inhabit."

The official added, "We hope this exhibition will offer an opportunity to experience the intersection of Ulsan's cultural heritage and contemporary urban art, and to contemplate the meanings contained therein."

Admission is 1,000 won for adults, 700 won for university students, soldiers, and artists, and Ulsan citizens can enter at a discounted rate of 500 won.

Reservations can be made online through the Ulsan Museum of Art website or on-site. For more details, please refer to the website or contact the museum by phone.

'Graphium GRAPHIUM' Exhibition Poster.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.