Mundano, a Brazilian artist, has created a large mural in São Paulo using materials like ash and mud from natural disasters to highlight the impact of climate change. The mural features the desolated landscape of deforested areas and Indigenous activist Alessandra Korap, calling attention to the role of soybean producers like Cargill in Amazon deforestation. The work aims to promote accountability for environmental destruction and raise awareness about the severity of current climate-related issues in Brazil.
Mundano, a Brazilian artist and activist, has recently unveiled an impactful mural in São Paulo, utilizing unconventional materials such as ash and mud sourced from areas affected by climate-related disasters. The mural serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of climate change, particularly the destruction wrought by extreme weather events in Brazil. Measuring over 30 meters in height and 48 meters in width, the mural depicts the ashen remains of trees in a parched landscape, symbolizing the alarming rates of deforestation and drought plaguing the Amazon rainforest. Central to the composition is Indigenous activist Alessandra Korap, adorned with a floral crown, who holds a placard that reads, “Stop the destruction keepyourpromise.” This message is a direct address to Cargill, a prominent soybean producer in the United States, whose practices contribute significantly to deforestation in the Amazon. Cargill has publicly committed to eradicating deforestation from its supply chain across Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay by 2025. However, Mundano urges accountability from the corporation, expressing a collective exhaustion over the exploitation of Brazilian land and resources for external benefit. In an interview, he stated, “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 catastrophic human-induced wildfires that have devastated protected regions in the Amazon, notably in the Pantanal and Cerrado ecosystems. These fires resulted in widespread air quality degradation across Brazilian cities. Furthermore, a critical drought has gripped the nation, with forecasts indicating prolonged dry conditions through October, according to Cemaden, Brazil’s disaster warning center. Reports indicate that the Negro River in the Amazon reached alarming lows, measuring 12.46 meters recently, although this remains approximately six meters below historical averages for this time of year. Such data highlights the intensified severity of this year’s dry season compared to previous cycles, exacerbated by a catastrophic flood earlier in Rio Grande do Sul that claimed over 180 lives and impacted more than two million individuals. In creating the mural, Mundano incorporated mud from that flood, along with ash from wildfires in several key Brazilian ecosystems, including the Atlantic Forest and Pantanal. He also utilized clay from the Sawre Muybu Indigenous territory, which signifies a detailed connection to the local cultural context of the land. Through the artwork, he emphasizes the interrelation of environmental disasters: “From floods to droughts, everything is connected!” This mural represents Mundano’s largest work to date, encapsulating his ongoing commitment to raise awareness about the multifaceted crises of climate change related to human activity. Previously, he had created a mural using ash from the Amazon featuring a firefighter amid deforested areas, further underpinning his focus on ecological conservation and activism.
The mural by Mundano situates itself within a broader dialogue about climate change, highlighting the increasing frequencies of extreme weather patterns in Brazil. Deforestation and agricultural expansion, primarily by companies like Cargill within the soybean industry, are driving factors contributing to this ecological crisis. The Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth,” is facing unprecedented threats from both drought and flooding, compounding the effects of climate degradation. Mundano’s artistic work serves as an intersection of environmental activism and public awareness, prompting discourses on resource management and corporate accountability.
In summary, Mundano’s mural in São Paulo powerfully encapsulates the urgent realities of climate-induced destruction in Brazil. By employing materials directly sourced from recent natural disasters, he crafts a poignant visual narrative that addresses deforestation, corporate responsibility, and the interconnectedness of environmental issues. His call for accountability from corporations like Cargill is a rallying cry for the protection of vital ecosystems and a sustainable future for Brazil and the globe.
Original Source: learningenglish.voanews.com
