“It’s rare when a writer is as complete as Bordalo II. Calling him an artist is an offense, he is much more than that. He is a thug, writer, artist, juggler but especially honest with the work he does. If once the great masters painted the beautiful landscapes in which they lived, today Bordalo II, with his unconventional travels through Europe, represents what’s around him but with the rawness and the waste of society of our times. Complete artist, with much still to give.”

-Alexandre Farto aka Vhils

Bordalo II presents us a figurative painting full of vivacity and movement, where he paints his own interpretation of urban landscapes and city entertainment. He’s exploring his own mixed media on wood stand base, and are thus made a series of collages of objects (garbage). It is not only a way to recycle, but also a critique of the world we live in, where we often have nice things, which are based on junk without realizing it.

BOMBING SCIENCE: Let’s start with the boring questions, just so we get to know you a little. How long have you been painting? How was it growing up in Lisbon?
 
Bordalo II: Since I remember to exist that I paint, but if you mean this expecific artwork I’m presenting, it’s probably been 2 years that I’m taking it seriously. Lisbon is a beautiful city, it was good growing up here!

 

BSCI: How would you describe today’s overall situation in Lisbon?
 
Bordalo II: It’s a beautiful city, in the north of Africa! It’s full of corruption, and old mentality, but it stills a lovely city!

 

BSCI: What about the art status? Lots of artists? Lots of opportunities?
 
Bordalo II: There are lots of artists, yes. More artists than opportunities, so a big part of the ones that wanna grow up in the art life must leave Lisbon.

BSCI: Your site’s info says you’ve been greatly influenced by your grandfather’s work.

Bordalo II: As far as I can go back in memory, I always saw him painting, and that influenced my life of course. For my artwork, I use the same thematics in the beginning, and just paint in my own way. Classic themes, with my modern techniques.

Canvas by Real Bordalo (Bordalo II’s grandfather)

 

BSCI: So what made you start picking up objects in the trash and combine them to your artwork?
 
Bordalo II: In fact, 2 years ago or something like that, I was doing my artwork without collages, but i had alot of garbage in my litle studio. So I thought about gluing it in pieces… just to try. And you know, an idea brings another one.. and that’s it!

 

BSCI: Is it always legit when you search for random objects, or do you sometimes break into junk yards or other facilities to steal stuff?
 
Bordalo II: Haha! Yes I already saw some trash stuff that I really liked, so I did whatever needed to be done in order to bring it back to the studio!


 

BSCI: Using recycled junk could be seen as a society critic, with technology, waste, materialism, overconsumption… Is it? 
 
Bordalo II: You are not wrong, but I think it’s more then a critic to overconsumption. It’s about the support of everything we see everyday. Think about how many things people really care about, but they don’t see that to support all of that there’s “garbage”. I mean a lot of the stuff people give so much importance to, is really not that important afterall.

 

BSCI: At first, your paintings seem very abstract and raw. Giving it more attention, it’s very easy to see a clear representation of what you want to show, if it’s a train, a city landscape, an animal. Do you try to show an imaginary representation, or is it simply the way you see things?
 
Bordalo II: It’s just my way to see this world, sometimes at first look you cannot recognize what’s the painting, because the colages, volume and 3D makes it not so easy to recognise. It’s like in the real world, there’s a lot of important stuff that you just dont see, because there’s alot of garbage in front of it !


 

BSCI: Do you exclusively paint on canvases? What about walls, murals?
 
Bordalo II: I love to do it in big, big murals, and with big collages, lots of garbage!


 

BSCI: So what’s the link between Bordalo II and graffiti, if any?
 
Bordalo II: It’s a good question, I’m sure that there’s a relation, not because I’m using spray paint in my artwork, but because graffiti made the person I became, and my artwork its also a reflection of that, what I am. But in other way, I want to split it. Graffiti is hardcore stuff, tags, trains, all city, crime in the city, I mean a street activity, not looking for a market. When you do graffiti it’s because you need that to feel good. When there’s an interest behind your “graffiti” that’s not graffiti it’s just street art – pink sellout bullshit! Opportunism, I mean! That’s the diference.


 

BSCI: What can we expect from Bordalo II in a near or distant future?

Bordalo II: We can expect to see some new levels, evolution, concept and different stuff!

 

BSCI: Any upcoming shows?

Bordalo II: Lausane – Outsiders – March 2013

Check out Bordalo II’s work on his website @ www.bordalosegundo.com or on his Facebook page.

 

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