Register
Wishlist
Contact Us
From March 13 to April 12, 2025, Galleria Wunderkammern in Milan is hosting “Forma Infinitum”, the first Italian solo exhibition of Add Fuel (Diogo Machado), an internationally renowned Portuguese artist known for his unique style that combines tradition and modernity. Through a fascinating interplay of geometries, bright colors and ornamental patterns, Add Fuel reinterprets the classic language of azulejos, transforming them into contemporary works with a strong visual impact.
A Journey Between Tradition and Innovation
“Forma Infinitum” explores the relationship between past and future, showing how art forms can evolve without losing their essence. The artist's inspiration stems from Portuguese azulejos, characterized by symmetrical and repetitive decorative motifs, but is reworked through a modern and experimental vision. The result is a series of works that challenge the boundaries between the familiar and the unknown, creating a universal visual language.
Add Fuel himself describes the project as a balance between memory and reinvention:
“Art can simultaneously be an archive of collective memory and a space for experimentation. The Mediterranean heritage and my Portuguese roots represent the starting point in my exploration of an evolving culture. I am happy to be exhibiting in Italy, a country with which I feel a strong cultural affinity, particularly through the tradition of southern majolica.”
The Works in the Exhibition
“Forma Infinitum” presents about twenty works, including many previously unseen works, ranging from metal sculptures to ceramics, tapestries and silkscreens on paper. In this variety of materials and techniques, the artist's desire to create a bridge between tradition and modernity emerges, making his art increasingly accessible and dynamic.
Among the most impressive works is “PATCH: WORKED 09”, a large-scale work (205.5 × 163 cm) inspired by the patchwork technique. Here, hand-painted tiles are enclosed in a white frame, creating a three-dimensional visual effect that plays with the viewer's perception.
The Origin of the Name and the Connection between Street Art and the Studio
The name Add Fuel comes from the English expression “add fuel to the fire”, which generally has a negative meaning, but which the artist has reinterpreted in a positive key: an act of empowerment and creative catalyzation.
His artistic production moves between two dimensions: studio work and street art. While he creates permanent works, such as ceramic panels and silkscreens, he also creates murals and urban installations that are distinguished by their ephemeral character. However, even his street interventions exhibit durability over time, as the glazed materials used for the panels can be restored.
Who is Add Fuel?
Diogo Machado, aka Add Fuel, was born in 1980 in Cascais, Portugal. A former graphic designer, he has established himself on the international scene thanks to his ability to reinterpret the visual language of azulejos, transforming them into contemporary works characterized by perfect symmetries and optical illusions.
Since 2006, he has exhibited in major international galleries and institutions, including Saatchi Gallery (London), Petit Palais (Paris) and National Tile Museum (Lisbon). He has also collaborated with global brands such as Nike, MTV and Red Bull, bringing his distinctive style to highly visible projects.
His work is based on the fusion of traditional and contemporary elements, playing with optical illusion and tessellation, and creating a visual rhythm that engages and captivates the viewer. With a growing presence in the urban art and design scene, Add Fuel continues to redefine the boundaries between past and future, taking his artistic message around the world.
Exhibition: “Forma Infinitum”
Where: Wunderkammern Gallery, Via Nerino 1, Milan
When: March 13 to April 12, 2025
Free admission - The artist will be present at the opening on March 13 at 6:30 pm.
A unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Add Fuel's world and discover how tradition can reinvent itself in the present, without ever losing its essence.
