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Add Fuel

Patch: Worked 09

Mixed

Ceramic

Frame Included

Unique Work

Hand-signed

205,5 cm x 163 cm

2024

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The artwork

Add Fuel - Patch: Worked 09

“Patch: Worked 09”, made in 2024, is a work that embodies the concept of layering and fragmentation, recurring themes in Add Fuel's art practice. Measuring 205.5x163 cm, the work is composed of smooth, relief tiles made by molding, glazing and painting by hand, creating a visual and tactile effect that recalls the memory of the material and its evolution over time.

The title “Patch: Worked”, which can be translated as “patched” or “modified”, suggests a process of reconstruction and intervention on the surface. The work seems to want to explore the concept of repair, where fragmentation is not seen as a loss, but as an opportunity to reveal hidden layers and create new visual narratives.

As in the tradition of Portuguese azulejos, the work features a decorative pattern in shades of blue and white, where the contrast between smooth and raised tiles adds a three-dimensional, almost sculptural dimension. The surface appears as an imperfect mosaic, a fabric of fragments in which whole and missing parts converse with each other, evoking the passage of time and the traces of history.

This composition relates to the ideas of erosion, sedimentation, and fracture, which Add Fuel associates with the geological transformations of the earth. The work can be read as a map of material memory, in which each tile represents a piece of a larger narrative, an artifact emerging from a layered past.

“Patch: Worked 09” thus becomes an artistic interpretation of the concept of continuity and transformation, combining tradition and innovation, order and rupture. Through the use of ceramics as a medium, Add Fuel builds a bridge between the ancient and the contemporary, inviting the viewer to reflect on the persistence of matter and the interconnectedness of time, earth and the human hand.

ADD FUEL, Patch: Worked 09: PRICES AND VALUE

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ADD FUEL

Add Fuel: between tradition and innovation in urban art

Origins and formation

Add Fuel, pseudonym of Diogo Machado, was born in 1980 in Cascais, Portugal. After studying Graphic Design at IADE - Creative University in Lisbon, he began his career working in several design studios in Portugal and Germany. This experience allowed him to refine his artistic vision, developing a style that mixes graphic design, illustration and decorative patterns.

Artistic evolution: from design to urban art

In 2007, Add Fuel decided to move away from commercial design and focus entirely on art, initially adopting the name “Add Fuel to the Fire”. His first artistic approach is characterized by dark tones and exuberant details, inspired by pop culture, video games, comic books and science fiction. However, over time, his style evolves toward a more decorative and conceptual direction.

The link with the tradition of azulejos

Attracted by the aesthetic potential of geometry and tessellations, Add Fuel shortened his pseudonym to “Add Fuel” and began exploring the tradition of azulejos, the iconic glazed ceramic tiles typical of Portugal. Through an innovative approach, he fuses contemporary urban art with ceramic tradition, creating works that combine decorative elements with a street art aesthetic.

An art that plays with perception

Add Fuel's work is a perfect balance of symmetrical repetitions, optical illusions and hypnotic patterns. His works recall classic azulejos but conceal unexpected details, visual deceptions, and a refined sense of symmetry and composition. The trompe-l'œil effect of his creations challenges the viewer's perception, inviting closer observation.

From the streets to the galleries: international success

Thanks to his ability to reinterpret Portuguese tradition in a modern key, Add Fuel quickly established himself on the international urban art scene. His works can be seen in murals, public installations and art galleries around the world. Some of his most important exhibitions include:

“WE ARE” - Petit Palais, Paris, France (2024)
“A P O P H E N I A” - Castanier Gallery, Miami, USA (2023)
“URBAN (R)EVOLUTION” - Cordoaria Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal (2023)
“BLINK” - Cincinnati, Ohio, USA (2022)
“The Crystal Ship” - Oostende, Belgium (2021)
“Alter Ego” - Macau, China (2018)
“Revolutions Per Minute” - Saatchi Gallery, London, UK (2017)

A bridge between the past and the future

Add Fuel's work is not a simple reinterpretation of traditional art, but a true dialogue between past and present. His artistic research aims to renew Portuguese cultural heritage, making it accessible and relevant to a contemporary audience. With his unmistakable style, he manages to transform the classic into something new and surprising, creating a visual language that connects history and modernity.

Add Fuel: Works for sale with prices and value from Wunderkammern

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Shipping and delivery

The work is fragile and a custom-made wooden crate will have to be made for it to travel safely. It will be delivered to you by insured express courier and the shipping cost will be calculated before payment is made.

If you live in a member country of the European Union, you will receive your work within 3 to 6 working days from the moment you place your order.
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