'Plastic Mero'

In 2018, thousands of pounds of garbage were collected from the waters of Madeira Island by locals, particularly fishermen, during a clean-up campaign organized by the regional government.

A small portion of the plastic waste was recycled by Portuguese street artist Artur Bordalo a.k.a. Bordalo II to create the bright-colored “Plastic Mero” sculpture. 

The artwork was installed in 2019 and portrays the endangered mero fish or Atlantic goliath grouper. It was made with the same type of materials that are partly to blame for its annihilation. Through his work, the environmental artist wants to remind viewers of how overconsumption leads to littered oceans with debris harming marine life.

In the neighboring fishing village of Câmara De Lobos, Madeira Island’s second piece of art by Bordallo II can be found: an eye-catching mural of a seal pup.