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In this article regarding urban art about social causes in Lisbon, we’ve gathered art pieces from writers that highlight important concepts that concern everyone.
The 21st century is marked by globalisation and the technological and digital revolution that represent a milestone in the evolution of humanity. Despite progress, many problems persist while others emerge.
These issues still have to be fought to achieve a more respectful world towards rights, differences, nature, the environment…
It never hurts to (try to) raise awareness, especially among the youngest layer, on the countless issues existing in the society we live in.
Urban art has an active and impacting role.
Join a tour and get to know the fabulous urban artworks in the centre of Lisbon.
Urban Art about Social Causes
Without further due, let’s get to know the urban art about social causes that we’ve selected for you.
End FGM
In Intendente Square there’s a mural, which is already quite degraded but that we still want to mention.
This is a piece by the creators Fidel Évora and Tamara Alves from 2014, dedicated to women, especially to the survivors of female genital mutilation.
It was an initiative of Associação para o Planeamento da Família (association for family planning) that aims to alert to this violent practice rooted in gender inequalities.
Introspecção
In 2015, APAV – Associação de Apoio à Vítima (Portuguese Association for Victim Support), in the scope of commemorating its 25th anniversary, promoted the realisation of the mural “Introspecção” (Introspection).
An introspection that awakens us to the existence of a darker side of society, where all types of crimes and violence happen, causing pain and suffering to the victims.
This painting was executed by Frederico Draw and Rodrigo Alma and can be seen in Rua Dona Estefânia.
Todos – Caminhada de Culturas
The festival Todos – Caminhada de Culturas (directly translated to Everyone – Hike of Cultures), promoted by the association Academia de Produtores Culturais in collaboration with the City Council of Lisbon, aims to contribute to the “destruction of territorial ghettos associated to immigration”.
Through contemporary performing arts programmes, including urban art, it has highlighted the importance of multiculturalism and inclusion.Some of the artworks we’re sharing today, such as the ones by AkaCorleone, I’m from Lisboa, Violant and by Tamara Alves, resulted from several editions of this festival.
Universal Personhood
This four-handed piece from 2017 was created by the artists Shepard Fairey and Vhils, where they intervened respectively on the left and on the right of the side of the building that is located at Rua da Senhora da Glória no. 39, in the Graça neighbourhood.
Universal Personhood is a project by Fairey aka Obey Giant that aims to promote peace, equality and humanity.
Through female figures with covered hair, the American creator evokes the discrimination of the rights of women in Arab countries. In his opinion, the equality of personality of women is an issue that is not, in fact, exclusive to these countries.
Obey Giant also intends to convey the message that Everyone deserves respect and human dignity and that everyone has their “Universal Personhood”.
150 Years of the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Portugal
This work by Portuguese artist Mário Belém is located at the intersection of Calçada de Santa Apolónia with Rua da Bica do Sapato, which was once a place of executions of capital punishment.
It consists of three parts: the date 1867, celebrated with life and color; the symbol of death and the inscription “150 ANOS ABOLIÇÃO DA PENA DE MORTE EM PORTUGAL” (150 Years of the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Portugal).
This mural was created in 2018, as part of the celebration of the attribution of the European Heritage Label to the harter of Law of the Abolition of the Death Penalty of 1867. It’s a distinction focused on the promotion of the symbolic European values and on the significant role these sites have played in the history and culture of Europe.
The awareness of respect for the right to life is an event of enormous importance for everyone, as a civilisation. At the time, Portugal had a leading position in the world, being one of the first countries to abolish the death penalty; today this value cannot be threatened in any way.
Mural do Compromisso (Commitment Mural)
Lisbon has made a commitment to sustainability. Through a series of actions, the City Council of Lisbon and more than 200 other entities, such as: companies, schools, organisations, committed themselves to making the city of seven hills greener and more environmentally friendly, honouring the Lisbon European Green Capital 2020 – Lisbon Climate Action 2030.
To mark this agreement, it was created in May 2020, at Calouste Gulbenkian Avenue, between Espanha Square and Águas Livres Aqueduct, the Commitment Mural by the Portuguese creator Ivo Santos aka SMILE.
In an area of 1000 square metres, SMILE, in collaboration with Viúva Lamego Factory, gathered graffiti and tiles. He painted animals, plants, flowers and a girl blowing a dandelion that symbolises the beginning of change, taking into account the climate objectives.
On the tile panel, which is in the centre of the mural, is inscribed the Lisbon Climate Action 2030 that essentially consists of a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions within 10 years and carbon neutrality by 2050.
But this panel is incomplete so that more entities can make this commitment, adding their logo to those of the partners who made sure to be on the front line.
Health Professionals
This last reference to urban art about social causes concerns a recognition of the efforts of health professionals who in this year of global health crisis, due to Covid-19, are fighting on the front lines to protect and save the population.
The mural executed by three artists, Edis One, Pariz One and Ôje was promoted by the group Lusíadas Saúde and is located at Rua Abílio Mendes.
It was inaugurated on June 18, 2020, the 100th day after the World Health Organization declared a pandemic.
Although the painting refers to the current situation, the mask element is not part of the composition. According to the authors, they intend this tribute to be timeless.
We hope that these examples of urban art about social causes have caught your attention to the existing imbalances, both at the level of the Portuguese society and at a global level, as they are everyone’s duty to contribute to minimise their effects.
We suggest you also read about Urban Art Tributes to Personalities in Lisbon.
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