Martinhal Launches Major Solo Exhibition for Street Artist Bordallo ii @Edu Hub

Born and raised in Lisbon, Artur Bordalo learned his craft both in the studios of his grandfather, the painter Real Bordalo and amongst the city’s energetic graffiti scene. He began leaving his mark on walls of Lisbon at the age of 11 under the tag of Bordalo II, a tribute to his grandfather, before going on to pursue a degree in painting at the Fine Arts school in Lisbon.

After discovering sculpture and ceramics and experimenting with a myriad of materials, Bordalo II’s sculpting techniques evolved and he found his calling: trash art. From the outset, he has focused on taking what has been discarded and creating art as a poignant criticism of pollution, overconsumption, and underscoring the lack of urgency and measures to mitigate environmental catastrophe.

Since 2012, he has salvaged over 115 tonnes of used materials, from tyres, dumpsters, marine debris, ropes, and other discarded objects, to create large-scale sculptures depicting mostly animals — his own acknowledgment of how important it is to put nature at the centre. His work has been presented globally as both highly resonant site-specific pieces and in exhibitions, from Singapore, the USA, and French Polynesia to France, Germany, and Austria.

Martinhal is now partnering with Bordalo II to present his latest exhibition, EVILUTION, in a unique setting: Edu Hub Lisbon, a new destination underway in neighbouring, Marvila by Chitra and Roman Stern, founders and owners of the Martinhal Group and the Elegant Group. The successful international school (ULIS) and campus came first opening in the pandemic anchoring what is EduHub Lisbon a 28,400 sqm site within revitalised industrial buildings (with a fascinating history of their own) which in the future will become spaces for learning, working, and living and already has several international businesses installed.