Hardcore Vibes

Oly Bliss

£6,500

Medium

Embroidery

Dimensions

117 W x 150 H x 1 D cm

Delivery

£25.00

Year

2020

Description

This portrait depicts a person I have never met: Alex Hace, known on Instagram as @alex_hace. He is a model with over 59.3k followers (2020). His images have earned him a platform that has elevated him to the status of an online "icon." He has cultivated a virtual subculture of followers who share a common interest in tattoo art. I am intrigued by how this has fostered a form of hero worship in the digital space.

People aspire to achieve his level of success—he represents a contemporary example of a hero. His popularity is measured by his follower count, their affluence, and their professional achievements. Historically, tapestries depicted heroes as knights in armor who had won battles or amassed great wealth.

This tapestry incorporates contemporary symbols to connect Scythian heritage with modern forms of communication and expression—emojis. The images on the left side of the piece reference designs found on a historic mummified tattoo sleeve. All the emojis on the right-hand side are taken from comments left by his followers.

The piece is titled after the model’s forehead tattoo: Hardcore Vibes. I find it compelling that Alex Hace chose to tattoo this phrase in English, even though it is not his first language. It reflects his assertion of identity and a personal mantra for the life he intends to lead. As someone who travels internationally and has a global following, he communicates visually across cultural boundaries.

I appreciate that facial and body tattoos are part of a historic artistic tradition that remains relevant today. Body art allows individuals to assert their identity in a bold and visible way—it is a form of art they carry with them wherever they go.

For further information about how this piece was constructed and the themes of the work please click here.

Details

Materials

Textiles

Weight

1kg

Dimensions

117 W x 150 H x 1 D cm

Delivery

Delivery available to these regions:

Region

Price

UK Mainland

£25.00

Orders will be processed and dispatched within 5-10 business days of receiving the order.
Shipping method(s) for this item: standard tracked
Estimated delivery times: 2-14 days/ up to 2 weeks.
Delivery will be tracked and tracking information provided once the order has been dispatched.
Delays caused by postal services are beyond my control.

Legals

Business Name

Oliver Bliss, A Room Of Our Own

Terms of Sale

Prices are as listed on Exhibtd.
Payments are securely processed through Stripe.
If you change your mind, you may return the item within 14 days of receipt.
Please contact me before returning any items so we can arrange the process smoothly.
Shipping costs for returns are the responsibility of the buyer unless the item is damaged.
Please contact me if your item doesn’t arrive within 14 business days of dispatch.
If your item arrives damaged, please contact me within 21 days of receipt with photos and a description of the damage.
Refunds will be processed directly to your bank account. This is dependent upon you providing your bank details in a timely manner.
You can cancel your order before dispatch. Please contact me as soon as possible if you wish to cancel through your Exhibtd account area.
Custom or commissioned artworks cannot be returned unless faulty or damaged.

Disclaimers

Colours may vary slightly between on-screen images and real artworks due to monitor settings and lighting.
Every original piece is handmade; small variations and imperfections are part of its character.
Frames shown in images are for display purposes unless otherwise specified.

Copyright

All artworks, designs, product images, and written content in this shopfront are copyright of Oliver Bliss, 2025.
Works may not be copied, reproduced, or distributed without prior written permission.
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