Brazilian artist Mundano has created a massive mural in São Paulo using materials from climate disasters—ashes from wildfires and mud from floods. The artwork aims to raise awareness about climate change and deforestation issues, targeting Cargill for its impact on the Amazon rainforest. It features Indigenous activist Alessandra Korap and calls for corporate accountability, emphasizing the ongoing environmental struggles Brazil faces due to extreme weather conditions.
Mundano, a Brazilian artist and activist, has created a striking mural in São Paulo utilizing materials sourced from natural disasters to draw attention to the urgent issue of climate change. The mural stretches over 30 meters in height and 48 meters in width, incorporating ashes from wildfires and mud from floods to depict the grim realities of deforestation and severe drought affecting the Amazon rainforest. In the artwork, Indigenous activist Alessandra Korap is portrayed wearing a floral crown and holding a sign that reads: “Stop the destruction keepyourpromise.” This message is aimed at Cargill, a leading soybean producer, which has pledged to remove deforestation from its supply chain in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay by 2025. Mundano aims to hold Cargill accountable for its role in contributing to the deforestation crisis in the Amazon. 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. ” The mural seeks to confront ongoing environmental degradation, particularly as recent wildfires have devastated protected areas within the Amazon and surrounding ecosystems such as the Pantanal and Cerrado. The effects of climate change have been profound, with drought conditions severely impacting Brazil, as confirmed by Cemaden, the country’s disaster warning center. This year, the Amazon’s Negro River measured an all-time low, indicating that the dry season has been worse than ever recorded. Earlier this year, catastrophic floods in Rio Grande do Sul claimed over 180 lives and devastated numerous communities. Mundano, identifying himself as an “artivist,” utilized mud from these floods, alongside ash from wildfires and soil from waste disposal sites in São Paulo, to craft his mural. He emphasizes the interconnectedness of environmental issues, expressing in a recent Instagram post, “From floods to droughts, everything is connected!” This mural marks his largest project to date, complementing a previous work he created three years ago that illustrated the harsh impacts of deforestation and climate change in the same city.
The mural by Mundano serves as a commentary on the pressing environmental challenges posed by climate change, particularly in Brazil. As extreme weather events including droughts and floods have intensified, the consequences for the Amazon rainforest and its inhabitants have become more severe. This work utilizes artistic expression to raise awareness about the urgent need for accountability among corporations, such as Cargill, whose agricultural practices significantly contribute to deforestation. By using materials linked to climate disasters, Mundano underscores the persistent exploitation of natural resources and the importance of regenerating the planet rather than allowing its degradation.
Mundano’s mural in São Paulo encapsulates a critical call to action regarding climate change and environmental justice. By employing a unique artistic medium, he highlights the devastation of deforestation and the responsibility of corporations to adhere to sustainable practices. His work serves as a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness of ecological crises and the urgent need for collective accountability in safeguarding the planet.
Original Source: learningenglish.voanews.com
