Bordalo II’s Massive Raccoon is Watching Lisbon And It’s Made of Trash
Lisbon has a new resident, and it’s impossible to miss! Portuguese artist Bordalo II has just unveiled a massive guaxinim/raccoon on a wall in Belém, constructed entirely from urban waste, including discarded bumpers, twisted metal, old tires, and fragments of forgotten things. It’s the latest addition to his Big Trash Animals series, and it might be his most ambitious yet.
Image copyright Bordalo II
The piece isn’t just visually striking; it’s technically clever. The stepped architecture of the building creates an optical illusion. From the side, the raccoon appears fragmented and abstract, but step in front, and suddenly the face snaps into perfect focus. It’s playful, mischievous, and utterly brilliant.
Image copyright Bordalo II
But beneath the eyes of the Raccoon lies a haunting message. By transforming the detritus of consumer culture into monumental animal sculptures, Bordalo II forces us to confront what we’d rather ignore: the mountains of waste we produce, the plastic choking our oceans, the throwaway habits threatening wildlife habitats.
Image copyright Bordalo II
The raccoon with its knowing gaze assembled from garbage, feels like it’s watching us back and asking uncomfortable questions about what we’re leaving behind.
Image copyright Bordalo II
Created for Bordalo II’s solo exhibition “Pânico, Drama, Terror” at Arte Periférica Gallery in the CCB museum, the Big Raccoon is already turning heads across the city. Be sure to check both out!