At a time when an independent commission is investigating situations of sexual harassment against minors in the Catholic Church of Portugal, the plastic artist Bordalo II carried out a series of artistic interventions to draw attention to the problem.
The works, which included a cross covered in stuffed animals and a plaque with a religious man commanding children like puppets, were installed in late October in churches across Portugal. The interventions were withdrawn shortly afterwards.
The ephemeral installation was called “Cruzes, Credo, Canhoto”, and had images released on the artist’s social networks.
“Similar to what I believe is the duty of society, we artists too have to use our voice to defend what is right and those who cannot defend themselves. We have to adopt a critical attitude, especially in taboo topics like this [abuso sexual de menores] and be an active part of the change,” he wrote.
In its latest report, the independent commission stated that it had already validated 424 testimonies of abuses in the Catholic Church in Portugal.
Born in Lisbon in 1987, Artur Bordalo uses the artistic name Bordalo II in honor of his grandfather, Real Bordalo (1925-2017), also an artist.
Bordalo II gained prominence in Portugal and other countries with its large and colorful sculptures, made with materials that would go to waste.
In the first week of November, the artist released another series of provocative interventions. Now, drawing attention to the problem of domestic violence and violence against women in Portugal.
The works were installed on the Justice Campus in Lisbon.
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