Mundano’s Mural: An Artistic Call to Action Against Climate Change in Brazil

Brazilian artist Mundano has created a large mural in São Paulo using materials from climate disasters, focusing on the impact of deforestation and drought in the Amazon. The mural features Indigenous activist Alessandra Korap, conveying messages directed at Cargill, a major soybean producer. The artwork serves as a call for accountability and emphasizes the interconnectedness of environmental crises in Brazil.

Brazilian artist and activist Mundano recently unveiled a striking mural in São Paulo, crafted with unconventional materials including ash and mud sourced from areas affected by climate-related disasters. This monumental artwork, standing over 30 meters tall and 48 meters wide, aims to underscore the pressing issues of climate change that have resulted in widespread destruction throughout Brazil. The mural depicts barren landscapes characterized by cracked earth and the gray remnants of scorched trees, symbolizing the severe drought and deforestation impacting the Amazon rainforest. Additionally, it features Indigenous activist Alessandra Korap adorned with a floral crown, holding a sign that implores: “Stop the destruction keepyourpromise.” Mundano’s artistic expression targets Cargill, a significant soybean producer in the United States, whose practices are implicated in the rampant deforestation of the Amazon. In a bid for accountability, Mundano asserts that “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.” Cargill has publicly committed to eradicating deforestation from its supply chain in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay by 2025. The past few months have highlighted exacerbated environmental crises in Brazil, with human-caused wildfires inflicting severe damage on protected regions of the Amazon, Cerrado savanna, and Pantanal wetlands, leading to detrimental air quality across several Brazilian cities. Nationwide drought conditions have also worsened, with forecasts indicating continued dry weather. The artist incorporated mud from a severe flood in Rio Grande do Sul earlier this year that resulted in over 180 fatalities and extensive displacement for millions. Mundano also collected ash from recent wildfires in the Atlantic Forest, Pantanal, and Cerrado, as well as clay from waste containers in São Paulo and from the Sawre Muybu Indigenous territory, which is connected to Alessandra Korap. Mundano, who identifies as an “artivist,” intends to reveal interconnections between various environmental catastrophes, stating, “From floods to droughts, everything is connected!” This mural represents his largest work to date and follows a previous project three years ago that similarly raised awareness about the consequences of environmental degradation. As climate issues continue to face the region, the public is compelled to reflect on the impacts of corporate practices on the environment and the urgency for accountability and action.

The artwork created by Mundano serves not merely as a visual piece but as a catalyst for dialogue about the ongoing climate crisis affecting Brazil and the Amazon rainforest. Brazil is experiencing an alarming increase in extreme weather events, including severe floods and droughts, largely attributed to climate change and deforestation, particularly linked to agricultural practices like soybean farming. Companies such as Cargill, which has promised to eliminate deforestation in their supply chains by 2025, are focal points for scrutiny regarding their environmental impact. Mundano’s mural engages with these themes, aiming to spur activism and accountability.

Mundano’s mural stands as a powerful artistic intervention highlighting the intersection of art and activism in addressing climate change. Through the use of materials from environmental disasters, the artist advocates for awareness and accountability from corporations like Cargill. By depicting the dire consequences of forest destruction and advocating for the rights of Indigenous activists, Mundano emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate issues and the need for collective responsibility to restore and protect natural ecosystems.

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