Bordalo II’s Big Trash Animals: Waste Transformed into Wildlife

Born in Lisbon in 1987 as Artur Bordalo, the Portuguese artist Bordalo II specializes in crafting large animal sculptures from repurposed materials. His notable series, 'Big Trash Animals,' is categorized into three distinct sub-series: Neutral (where waste is camouflaged), Half-Half (contrasting naturalistic elements with exposed trash), and Plastic (showcasing materials in full view). Since 2012, he has recycled an impressive 178 tons of materials. His art can be found in numerous cities worldwide, including Lisbon, Paris, London, Berlin, Amsterdam, New York, Dubai, and Hong Kong. These sculptures serve as a critique of consumerism, pollution, habitat destruction, and overproduction. Rosh Boroumand, co-founder of GraffitiStreet, notes that Bordalo II has made waste a prominent aspect of contemporary street art.