Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada paints murals on climate change and indigenous rights, Madrid 2020

Street artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada created two new murals, “Forest Focus” and “Past, Present, Future”, in Madrid focusing on the climate crisis and the fight of indigenous people to save their lands. The project was curated by Stephen Donofrio of Greenpoint Innovations, for GreenPoint EARTH.

The mission of GreenPoint EARTH is to leverage the incredible power of public art to inspire climate action with positive messages about the interconnected themes of nature, people, and climate.

“GreenPoint EARTH Madrid shines a light on the powerful leadership from indigenous people, women, and youth to save our planet from a climate crisis. Our world’s forests hold priceless value when you add up the people, biodiversity, and ecosystem services that they contain. Teaming up with Jorge was an obvious decision. He has a clear vision and an incredible talent to turn these complicated concepts into an artistic reality. We’re grateful to him and the many organizations that supported our full program of innovative engagement activities for COP 25.”  Stephen Donofrio, GreenPoint EARTH Curator and Founder of GPI

The first mural depicts an eye at the centre of Planet Earth, with the Amazon as the pupil and Chile clearly visible as a homage to the official COP25 host country. “Forest Focus” alludes to the eye symbol of Goal 13 for Climate Action with the image of the world as the iris. This mural has an artistic focal point that symbolises the values set forth at the COP25 conference being held in Madrid.

The second mural “Past, Present, Future” is a portrait of Hilda Pérez, a leader of the Indigenous Ashaninka Community located in Peru.

The team chose to feature indigenous people as they occupy 25-50% of the Earth’s land and the direct result of their stewardship keeps 51 GT of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere, a huge contribution to avoid and revert climate change. Notably, the colours of the feather headdress represent each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set forth by the United Nations. Hilda Pérez is also the Vice President of the National Organization of Andean and Amazonian Indigenous Women of Peru (ONAMIAP). ONAMIAP was founded on November 25, 2009, the International Day Against Violence against Women, as a result of a long process of formation, debate and articulation between sisters from different regions.

These 2 murals were painted in the Occupational Center in Lineal City (Centro Ocupacional Ciudad Lineal), a centre for people with intellectual divergences. Naturally aligned with the goals of GreenPoint EARTH, this freely offered facility is dedicated to helping people in the development of
professional, personal and social skills.

This project was possible thanks to the support of the City and Community of Madrid, United Nations for Climate Change, National Wildlife Federation International, Arbor Day Foundation, and Forest Trends.

Photo credit by Fer Alcalá Pictures

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