Portuguese artist Add Fuel pulls inspiration from the hypnotic patterns of azulejo tiles. With a blend of original vector-based designs and stencil-based street works Add Fuel’s mesmerizing style showcases a masterful attention to detail both on the street and in the gallery. Add Fuel’s debut RUN Broken Mirror On The Wall comes fresh off of his recent solo show at Underdogs in Lisbon, Portugal. Watch the video interview with Add Fuel below and read to find out more about this image as Add Fuel gives us the lowdown on this hand-pulled screen print available exclusively on 1xRUN . . .
1xRUN: Tell us a little bit about this piece, anything immediate you would like us to highlight about this image?
Add Fuel: I wanted to explore something slightly new with this print. I’ve been working a lot with patterns as repetitions and how they can be deconstructed and integrated in other visual images. This idea of repetition kind of got me thinking about all the repetitive things we see today online and in real life. Something that really bothers me is the objectification of beauty online, Instagram accounts filled with empty selfies just to get attention and likes and so on. I don’t know, it’s empty. Empty people with empty minds, it’s something that we as a society should not propel. Then I had this idea of a broken fairy tale mirror, a reflection of all this, so that when people look at this print, they can slightly see themselves and also think about all this.
1x: Was this image part of a recent theme, series or show that you had? If so how did it fit into that given grouping?
Add Fuel: As I mentioned above, this was a very specific concept and idea I wanted to work on for this print release. The language of this piece picks up from the work I’ve been developing around ceramic tiles – azulejo tiles in particular – but this piece has it’s own specific vibe and idea behind it.
1x: When was this piece originally created and what materials were used?
Add Fuel: The piece was created in early February of 2017. It was the first project I embraced right after I finished all my pieces for my Lisbon solo show “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed” at Underdogs Gallery.
The original piece is composed of 15 x 15 cm ceramic tiles with gel ink for a total size of 60 x 45 cm.
1x: How long did each of this image take to create from start to finish?
Add Fuel: I would say from idea to final piece, something like 5 days.
1x: Why should people buy this one of these prints?
Add Fuel: I really like the way that we got the center of this print to, sort of be reflective, simulating the idea of a mirror. This is something unique. I think it would be a cool addition to any collection or a household. It has this connection to fairy tale, but a modern one.
1x: Describe this image in one gut reaction word.
Add Fuel: What’da?
1x: When did you first start making art?
Add Fuel: Around 2006
1x: What was your first piece?
Add Fuel: Oh… haha! Maybe when I was a kid? I was always drawing stuff, making up stories. I guess some if it was really artistic!
1x: What artists inspired you early on? What artists inspire you now?
Add Fuel: I have always been a big fan of Jim Phillips. Right now I try not to look too much into other artists work. I try to keep my work as unique as possible and it’s super easy to unconsciously drop something within your art you’ve seen somewhere. So I try to look as little as possible.
1x: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?
Add Fuel: I like to listen to random and different music. Depends on the mood actually. While I work I can be listening to some nostalgic 80’s or 90’s playlist or just some UK grime, it really depends on the day!
1x: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it? The last?
Add Fuel: Yep. It was a small A5 size original by Dave The Chimp! The last was a larger piece by Dave The Chimp. I know, it’s a crazy coincidence.
1x: Any big shows or events coming up that you’d like to share?
Add Fuel: I’m heading out to Nuart Aberdeen in Scotland in April, will be good fun for sure. Also I’m having some pieces in the Urban Art Fair in Paris, also in April. Also a lot of good things lining up for the summer!
1xRUN: Where else can people find you?
Add Fuel: Website – Facebook + Instagram @addfuel
-1xRUN