Strolling through the streets of Lisbon you cannot help but be fascinated by the facades of some buildings completely covered with colorful tiles. These are the azulejos, glazed ceramic tiles that have been part of the history of the Iberian Peninsula since the 13th century.
Today in the Portuguese capital, in addition to the traditional and ancient azulejos, it is possible to admire works that revisit this artistic tradition, such as the murals by Add Fuel.
Born in 1980, Add Fuel is the stage name of Diogo Machado, a Portuguese artist and designer who over the years has become internationally known for having transformed the typical ceramic tiles and their decorations into the hallmark of his works.
Graduated in Graphic Design at IADE – Institute of Visual Arts, Design and Marketing in Lisbon, he started his career as a designer and illustrator and then moved on to street art.
While he began exhibiting his drawings and prints in various galleries and creating real tiles, he also began to participate in various urban art festivals, reproducing his azulejos-inspired graphics and patterns on the facades of buildings.
From Paris to Miami, Add Fuel has become a globally recognized name, but his latest work has brought him home to Lisbon.
Adapta Adapta
A few days ago, in fact, the Portuguese artist finished “Adapta“, an artwork created as part of Underdogs Public Art, an artistic and cultural project born in 2010 that aims to create a link between the artists, the public and the city.
The mural covering the entire outer wall of a building on Rua da Senhora da Glória shows several overlapping patterns reminiscent of those on azulejos.
Add Fuel’s works are the perfect example of how contemporary art can be inspired and pay homage to the artistic traditions of the past.
