Bordalo II
The intriguing multi-dimensional large-scale critter creations by Portuguese street artist Artur Bordalo convey a message humanity should heed
In today’s hed gif we are viewing street art by Portuguese artist and activist Artur Bordalo, known as Bordalo II (Bordalo Segundo). These large-scale installations are part of his series “Big Trash Animals” and can be found throughout Portugal and internationally. Bordalo II uses discarded and recycled items in his works representing endangered species to help raise awareness about the impact that plastic and throw-away items have on vulnerable animals and their habitats.
Born in Lisbon in 1987, Artur is the grandson of landscape painter Real Bordalo. Influenced by his time spent in his grandfather’s studio, at age 11 Artur started tagging and spray-painting graffiti on the streets of Lisbon; he took the name “Bordalo II” as an homage to the elder artist, who passed away in 2017. Artur attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Lisbon and studied painting, sculpture, ceramics and multi-media construction. Although he never completed the program, he credits the school for exposing him to new avenues of creativity while his chosen methods of expression still enable him to work on the streets and in the public space that he prefers. When he’s not traveling internationally to create new pieces, Bordalo II works out of his Lisbon studio, which we just happened to pass.
Since 2012 Bordalo II has created about two hundred animals sculptures with more than 60 tons of reused materials. He hopes that his pieces seen around the world will provoke reflection on waste, consumerism and our collective role in environmental degradation. He explains his message and artistic evolution in his own words in the embedded video below.
More information about the artist can be found below, including pictures from his newest creations via his Instagram feed.
There is also the Washed Ashore project just down the road in Bandon, Oregon, making sea creature sculptures out of recycled oceanic beach pickings with obvious environmental messaging. They are into putting exhibitions in institutional spaces, at which they have been notably successful. WashedAshore.org
Wow, impressive art and sending an important message. Thanks for the introduction, Martini.