Mundano’s Mural: An Artistic Protest Against Climate Injustice in Brazil
Brazilian artist Mundano has created a large mural in São Paulo using materials from natural disasters to draw attention to climate change and deforestation. The artwork features Indigenous activist Alessandra Korap and calls out Cargill, a major soybean producer, to hold them accountable for their environmental impact. Recent environmental crises, including drought and fires, underscore the urgency of Mundano’s message, highlighting the need for corporate responsibility in the face of climate change.
Mundano, a Brazilian artist and activist, recently unveiled a striking mural in São Paulo that utilizes unconventional materials sourced from natural disasters. Measuring over 30 meters high and 48 meters wide, the mural incorporates ash from wildfires and mud from flooding to depict the severe impact of climate change and environmental degradation in Brazil. The artwork vividly illustrates the consequences of deforestation and drought, particularly in the Amazon rainforest, showcasing gray remnants of trees over a parched, cracked land. The mural features Indigenous activist Alessandra Korap, adorned with a floral crown, holding a sign that reads “Stop the destruction keepyourpromise.” This message is aimed specifically at Cargill, one of the world’s largest soybean producers, highlighting the company’s pledge to eradicate deforestation from its supply chain by 2025 in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. In an interview, Mundano expressed his views on the exploitation of natural resources in Brazil: “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 seen escalating environmental crises in Brazil, with wildfires devastating protected regions of the Amazon, Cerrado savanna, and Pantanal wetlands, significantly affecting air quality in urban areas. Concurrently, a prolonged drought has exacerbated conditions, with forecasts indicating persistence long into the month. The Negro River in the Amazon recently recorded low levels, remaining substantially below historical averages, underscoring the severity of the dry season. Earlier this year, floods in Rio Grande do Sul led to substantial human and infrastructural losses, prompting Mundano to incorporate mud from these floods into his current mural. Additionally, materials were sourced from ashes of fires in the Atlantic Forest, Pantanal, and Cerrado, as well as waste sites and Indigenous lands in the Amazon. His previous mural, created three years ago, similarly addressed environmental issues by featuring a firefighter amidst deforestation.
The mural created by Mundano reflects ongoing environmental challenges in Brazil, notably intensified by climate change, including severe droughts, deforestation, and natural disasters such as wildfires and floods. The art aims to raise awareness about the urgent need for accountability among corporations, particularly in agriculture, which significantly contributes to ecosystem destruction. Cargill’s commitment to eliminating deforestation from its supply chain is a central focus of the artist’s message, encapsulating broader calls for environmental stewardship and sustainability. This activism through art seeks to engage the public and provoke thoughtful discourse on the intersection of corporate practices and ecological responsibility.
Mundano’s mural not only showcases the artistic use of materials originating from climate disasters but also serves as a powerful indictment of environmental exploitation, targeting corporate giants like Cargill for their role in deforestation. By embodying a message of accountability and regeneration, the mural contributes to the critical conversation about climate change in Brazil, advocating for immediate action and adherence to promises regarding forest preservation and sustainability.
Original Source: learningenglish.voanews.com
