The Forest Brigade

Thiago Mundano, Brazilian, born 1986

The Forest Brigade, 2021

Thiago Mundano is an art activist born in São Paulo, Brazil, and is recognized internationally for his “papo reto” graffiti, or “straight to the point” pieces. In October 2021, the graffiti artist finished his vast mural (measuring about 10,000 square feet) titled The Forest Brigade. The mural was created entirely out of ash from the burned Amazon rainforest. While traveling to collect the ash, Mundano also met with firefighters and fire volunteers to hear their stories. Mundano’s mural depicts a firefighter at its center, placing the voices and stories of those who risk their lives to fight fire at the very forefront. The burning forest in the background and depictions of continuous deforestation raises the issue of wildfires across Brazil as well as how other forms of environmental degradation can lead to this worldwide destruction. Additionally, the skeleton of an animal and the discarded megaphone recall the many lives and voices we have lost to the fire. Mundano hopes his larger-than-life mural can aid the effort in protecting both environmental and universal human rights. Label by Isabel Williams

De money series no. 1

George Osodi, Nigerian, born 1974

De money series no. 1

De money series no. 1 illustrates twelve young men precariously mining on the edge of a mountain in Nigeria. The men appear almost like cave paintings, two-dimensionally floating upon the rock. Osodi forces the audience to consider how these men’s social situations tip with the same amount of fragility. Such dangerous work speaks volumes of the desperation these young men must face to search for gold in this manner. This work is part of a series that depicts the dangers of illegal mining and oil extraction in Nigeria. Label by Katie Lee

Lips Oil Cans Exhibition 'Lipstick and Agapanthus’

Sokari Douglas Camp, British-Nigerian, born 1958

Lips Oil Cans Exhibition ‘Lipstick and Agapanthus’, 2018

Sokari Douglas Camp is a British-Nigerian artist known for her work commenting on human rights issues, and the collection this piece is from points towards environmental injustices. In the work, she depicts two “distinctly African” figures, made entirely out of metal oil cans, frolicking together in a field of metal flowers with oil cans on their heads. The piece is playful, yet the grime and grease left on the cans hints to the message she is making about mankind’s dependence on oil and its effect on our relationship with the environment. It is as if the oil industry is overcoming mankind and is inherently connected to how we interact and affect our environment—as the bright white flowers are left covered in the grease while the figures play on top of them. Label by Maeve Marsh

Human Cost

Liberate Tate, United Kingdom

Human Cost, 2011

Artists from the art activist organization, Liberate Tate, coordinated a performance, Human Cost, in the middle of the floor of an exhibition in the Duveen Gallery, Tate Britain. An individual from the activist group lay naked on the floor covering their face, while others, clothed in black and veiled by a black cloth, poured an oil-like substance over the nude body from a vibrant green gas canister labeled with BP’s logo. The liquid dripped down the body and puddled around them on the floor. The performance occurred on the first anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon explosion that spilled 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. This staging occurred for 87 minutes, representing the 87 days oil poured into the ocean in addition to protesting BP’s sponsorship of Tate museum. Label by Elsa Rall