Diogo Machado III

Tradition Remixed: Azulejo Reimagined in Thread

TeHer Art Rugs is proud to unveil a bold collaboration with Portuguese visual artist Diogo Machado, widely known as Add Fuel. Renowned for his intricate, layered reinterpretations of azulejos—the ornamental ceramic tiles iconic to Portuguese architecture—Add Fuel brings his vibrant, detail-rich style into the world of textile through a limited series of three unique rugs.
Each rug in this collection draws from the visual language of traditional azulejos, but with Add Fuel’s unmistakable twist: layered symmetries, hidden forms, and playful distortions that reveal themselves slowly. What appears at first glance as classical pattern unfolds into a contemporary visual remix—an homage to the past, animated by irony and invention.
To translate this graphic complexity into woven form, the rugs were hand-knotted in Nepal at exceptional detail, using a rich blend of Tibetan wool, New Zealand wool, yak hair, and bamboo silk. These materials were selected for their tonal range, natural sheen, and textural depth—allowing the intricate linework and pattern layering to emerge with clarity and vitality.
More than a visual artwork, each rug becomes a sculptural surface of cultural memory—where ancient craft meets digital-era ornament, and tradition is quite literally turned on its head.
With this collaboration, TeHer continues its mission to bring contemporary artistic voices into dialogue with heritage techniques—creating works that are as enduring as they are inventive.