RAW
by Bordalo II
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Who is Bordalo II for those who have not heard of you so far? Bordalo II is an artist with a message. His graphic side is as important as his activist side. Google him! What matters to you most? When you have visibility as an artist, you have a responsibility to have a significant message. If not, what you do is just superficial and not relevant. How do you see your art's impact on issues that you consider important? |
photo by Raymesh Cintron |
My goal is to make you think about what's behind the colors, shapes, and the whole image. It's a mix of subliminal messages, where I'm talking about how our habits are destroying the world, the nature, the animals, and in fact, our habitat.
I want to confront people with the waste we produce, so we question our habits.
Do you listen to music while you work? What’s in your playlist now?
I always listen to music when I’m working. I have an eclectic taste. I mostly listen to music my friends share with me, nothing specific.
Was there a specific moment or series of events that helped you decide what you want to say through your work?
The first big artwork I made was in 2013 for Walk & Talk in Azores was called “Big Crab”. It came as a natural process. I was experimenting with waste in different themes and compositions. I’ve always liked nature and animals, and even if I didn’t create Big Trash Animals with that purpose intentionally, I quickly realized that my concept and environmental conscience had to work together. So, at a certain point it just made sense.
I want to confront people with the waste we produce, so we question our habits.
Do you listen to music while you work? What’s in your playlist now?
I always listen to music when I’m working. I have an eclectic taste. I mostly listen to music my friends share with me, nothing specific.
Was there a specific moment or series of events that helped you decide what you want to say through your work?
The first big artwork I made was in 2013 for Walk & Talk in Azores was called “Big Crab”. It came as a natural process. I was experimenting with waste in different themes and compositions. I’ve always liked nature and animals, and even if I didn’t create Big Trash Animals with that purpose intentionally, I quickly realized that my concept and environmental conscience had to work together. So, at a certain point it just made sense.
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Your Big Trash Animals have appeared in 23 countries and 4 continents. How has each location affected you in what you decided to show there?
I try to represent locally endangered species in every site I work, but sometimes other species, not found in that region or from another place of the world are built, because the message is always global.
Can you share with us something that has made an impression on you while working in different locations around the world?
I’ve encountered some places around the world where it was really difficult to find waste to work with. Because there was no recycling system, so trash would all go to a landfill, and once it got there it was impossible to sort anything for working with. This happened in the Caribbean, so the beach was nearby and super contaminated, and you would see oil platforms in the horizon. So this naturally beautiful area, with warm waters and everything, was completely ruined by greed.
We have an ongoing project #BeatTheBlues and we’d like to hear from you on that?
Well, I just do my best not to get to that point.
What is the best story you’ve heard lately?
None I can think of..
If only...
I prefer this one: If there is only one planet Earth, where are we going to live if we fuck up this one?
BIG TRASH ANIMALS - Located in 23 countries and 4 continents
Through the creation of giant sculptural animals, built exclusively with waste (which, in fact, kills them), BORDALO II proposes a different perspective at our consumerist habits.
Contrary to an increasingly globalism logic, BORDALO II presents us with local, extinct or endangered species. Very instantly and naturally, human empathy generates an emotional and affective relationship with these great animals, promising, desiring to question our acts and habits and, perhaps, their subsequent transformation, evolution.
For more info visit www.bordaloii.com