Add Fuel
Intermission
2021
Screen printing with hand embellishments
90 × 70 cm
Ed. /75
Location: France
Documents
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Invoice or proof of purchase
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Certificate of authenticity
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Other documents
About the artwork
The composition features a dynamic arrangement of blue and white patterns, evoking the aesthetic of traditional Portuguese azulejos. Diagonal tears appear to peel back layers, revealing different styles of tile work and, in some instances, more contemporary, graffiti-inspired motifs underneath. The color palette is dominated by various shades of blue, ranging from deep indigo to lighter cerulean, set against a white or light grey background. Several distinct tile patterns are visible, some exhibiting classical floral or geometric designs, while others incorporate stylized figures or abstract forms. The illusion of torn paper edges creates a sense of depth and deconstruction within the two-dimensional print.
Expert opinion
This work positions itself within the contemporary art landscape, specifically at the intersection of urban art and traditional craft. The artist's appropriation and reinterpretation of azulejo patterns contribute to a discourse on cultural heritage and its contemporary relevance. As a screen print with hand embellishments, it offers a tangible connection to the artist's hand while being part of a limited edition. The market for such works is sustained by collectors interested in street art and artists who engage with historical motifs in a modern context.
About the artist
Born in 1980 in Cascais (Portugal), Diogo Machado, aka Add Fuel, is an artist with a degree in Graphic Design from Lisbon's IADE - Creative University. He began his career in design, before devoting himself to his artistic work in 2007 under the artist name Add Fuel to Fire. He developed a dark, fantastical universe populated by eccentric creatures. The following year, however, he took an interest in the aesthetic qualities of Portuguese tiles. So he shortened his pseudonym to Add Fuel, and set about hybridizing traditional Portuguese ceramic techniques with a complex, richly detailed contemporary aesthetic. His work has received worldwide acclaim and is the subject of numerous solo exhibitions, including at Galerie Itinerrance in Paris in 2019, Underdogs Gallery in Lisbon in 2021 and Galerie Subliminal Project in Los Angeles in 2022.
“"I explore the visual language of traditional azulejo to reinvent it in a contemporary context." - Add Fuel on her practice”
Additional info
Signed
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