Bordalo II Unveils Flamingo Murals in Olhão from Recycled Waste

Portuguese artist Bordalo II has completed "Flamingos da Ria Formosa," a pair of sculptural murals on two walls in Olhão, Portugal. The works feature three monumental adult flamingos and a baby bird, all constructed from recycled plastic, metal, bicycle parts, and abandoned objects. The murals are part of his ongoing "Big Trash Animals" series, which uses waste materials to highlight pollution, overconsumption, and habitat loss in the nearby Ria Formosa lagoon. The adult flamingos appear elegant from a distance but reveal industrial fragments up close. The baby flamingo, assembled from eccentric objects including bicycle wheels, adds humor and vulnerability. Bordalo II noted that Olhão was a global hub for graffiti and street art for over 30 years, largely thanks to SEN, and that many earlier walls have disappeared under redevelopment. The title directly references the Ria Formosa, a coastal lagoon network important for migratory birds. The artist's works are available through GraffitiStreet gallery in Chichester, England.