Mundano, a Brazilian artist and activist, created a large mural in São Paulo using materials from recent natural disasters to highlight climate change and deforestation in the Amazon. Featuring Indigenous activist Alessandra Korap, the mural calls for accountability from Cargill, a major soybean producer, and emphasizes the interconnectedness of ecological crises, while also showcasing the impacts of drought and floods in Brazil.
Mundano, a Brazilian artist and activist, has unveiled a monumental mural in São Paulo, consisting of unique materials such as ash and mud sourced from recent natural disasters. This striking artwork serves as a powerful commentary on climate change, illustrating the alarming impacts of extreme weather events currently affecting Brazil. The mural, which measures over 30 meters in height and 48 meters in width, features stark images—a representation of drought and deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. The artist incorporated ash from devastating wildfires and mud from recent floods, depicting the desolation of cracked earth and charred remnants of trees in the landscape. In a significant focal point of the mural, Indigenous activist Alessandra Korap is portrayed adorned with a floral headdress, holding a placard reading, “Stop the destruction keepyourpromise.” This message is critically aimed at Cargill, a major American soybean producer whose practices are implicated in the ongoing deforestation of the Amazon basin. Cargill has publicly committed to eradicating deforestation from its supply chain in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay by 2025, yet the artist challenges the company’s accountability, demanding action to halt environmental exploitation. Mundano stated in an interview, “We are tired of being a country, a continent where we and the natural resources we have here are exploited. … We have to regenerate our planet instead of destroying it.” Recent months have witnessed unprecedented destruction with human-induced wildfires damaging protected regions across the Amazon, while drought has created a critical situation throughout Brazil. Current meteorological forecasts indicate that these dire conditions may persist into the near future. In particular, the Negro River’s depth has reached an alarming low, indicative of the severe drought plaguing the region. Meanwhile, earlier this year, catastrophic flooding in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul claimed over 180 lives and impacted more than 2 million people. The materials used in Mundano’s mural were gathered by the Movement of People Affected by Dams. The artist also drew from ashes collected from multiple fire-affected areas, as well as earth sourced from waste containers in São Paulo and clay from Sawre Muybu Indigenous land, emphasizing the interconnectedness of ecological crises. Mundano encapsulated this sentiment in a recent Instagram post: “From floods to droughts, everything is connected!” This mural, marked as his largest to date, follows a similar project executed three years prior, which also revolved around themes of environmental devastation. This initiative exemplifies how art can galvanize public discourse on pressing environmental issues, especially at a time when Brazil faces severe climate challenges.
The current state of the environment in Brazil is critical, as climate change continues to escalate the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, including wildfires and severe drought. These phenomena not only devastate ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest, but they also have dire social implications, notably for Indigenous communities and the broader population affected by environmental degradation. The ongoing large-scale deforestation driven by agricultural practices, particularly soybean cultivation, further aggravates these challenges, prompting activists like Mundano to utilize their platforms to raise awareness and seek accountability from corporate entities engaged in environmentally destructive practices.
In summary, Mundano’s mural stands as a profound artistic statement against climate change, calling attention to the urgent need for ecological responsibility and corporate accountability. By incorporating materials affected by environmental disasters, the artist bridges art and activism while highlighting the interconnectivity of these issues—drought, deforestation, and corporate exploitation of natural resources. The mural’s symbolic messages, particularly directed at Cargill, serve as a clarion call for renewed commitments to environmental stewardship, underscoring the importance of preserving Brazil’s natural heritage.
Original Source: learningenglish.voanews.com
