Portuguese street artist Artur Bordalo, aka Bordalo II, tackles the problem of urban rubbish through his fantastic street-art. By turning burnt aluminum cans, old tires, scrap wood and neglected appliances into colorful animals he diverts garbage from landfills while adding a splash of color to dull city corners. His elaborate creatures are curious, very vivid and tactile, giving a brand new dimension to old rubbish.
Bordalo II’s amazing creatures are scattered all around Lisbon, where the artist lives. Curious rabbits, toucans, raccoons and even feathered hummingbirds are all part of a project to raise awareness on the amount of stuff we throw away. His unique technique is the combination of painting and sculpture with a result that is surprising, sustainable and provides urban art a new dimension.
To make his wonderful creatures Bordalo II collects cans, car tires, computer parts, wood, appliances and other discarded stuff from wastelands, abandoned factories and dirty places around town. His original technique consists of sticking rubbish pieces to a wall as a collage in the shape of an animal to then spray some paint to complete the piece.
Demonstrating that one man’s trash is another man’s art, this Portuguese street-artist helps with both, recycling and decorating sad urban landscapes.