THE Piazza revival in Fremantle’s CBD has continued with a new mural by an international street artist whose edgy artworks upset his hometown authorities last year.

Artur Bordalo known as Bordalo II is a Lisbon born artist who has created artworks across the globe, his most recent unveiling a quokka in the Piazza.

It is a part of his series “Big Trash Animals”— artworks which use recycled, found and second-hand materials to create portraits of animals.

“It’s always about making portraits of the animals,” Bordalo II said.

“I mean, the victims of those materials that are destroying their habitats; the contamination, the pollution, the waste, we use the waste which destroys them or their habitats to make their portraits.”

Bordallo II says although it’s easy to look and see something beautiful made of trash he wants people to look deeper.

“We’re talking about these environmental issues, and the way that we are treating the environment, that this is destroying not only this species’ environment, but it will eventually destroy our own habitat, because we are also animals,” he said.

Having always wanted to come to Australia the quokka marks Bordalo II’s first artwork on Aussie shores with him having previously created a koala in Imola Italy.

Bordalo II’s artwork and social commentary is often not without controversy— last year he installed a Monopoly board in a Lisbon square critiquing Portugal’s housing market.

Titled Monopolised, it was was quickly removed on the orders of the City municipality, which complained he had screwed the work onto traditional paving.

“It is to provoke, you know and it worked,” the artist said.

“It’s not permanent, you know, it’s ephemeral.”

He says a commissioned work like the quokka is a “very different” process.

• Bordalo II at work on his new quokka (above) and emu (left) murals in The Piazza. Photos by Gus Cullen

“This artwork is something that was asked for someone. You’re making it as a partnership with someone. 

“So the other thing is just something wild and free, very spontaneous so it’s different,” he said.

Piazza owner Browyn Owen won’t be ordering any removal soon, calling Bordalo II a “genius”.

“Piazza was a discarded space, unloved and deserted,” she said.

“Breathing life into Piazza is a gift to the community. 

“I have a unique set of experiences so decided to gift this to our community.

“I love Bordalo II. He’s not just a talent but a wonderful human being and represents the values of Piazza,” Ms Owen said.

Bordalo II also completed another work, an emu which will be displayed above a children’s art museum due to open by the end of the year Ms Owen told the Chook.

Further artworks are set to continue in the Piazza with French artist Aéro to paint a mural in March and a mural festival to take place in November, bringing artists from all over the world to partner with local artists.

Taking cues from Neals Yard London to New York to Lisbon, Ms Owen said she is exploring many places to create the “Piazza Arts District”.

by GUS CULLEN