Half Rabbit in Vila Nova de Gaia is one of the best-known works from Bordalo II’s “Trash Animals” series, created entirely from discarded materials such as metal parts, plastic containers and other urban debris collected around the city. The three-dimensional sculpture occupies the corner of a residential building, so the rabbit appears folded over two façades: one side is left in raw, unpainted material, while the other is covered with color, emphasizing the contrast between waste and representation of wildlife. This half-painted, half-neutral approach belongs to the artist’s “Half-Half” concept, underlining the duality between real animals and the trash that threatens their habitats.
Located in the narrow streets of Vila Nova de Gaia, just across the Douro River from Porto and close to the famous port wine cellars, the piece has become a popular stop for visitors interested in contemporary street art and environmental issues. While visually striking and highly photogenic, the installation also works as a direct, readable critique of consumerism, overproduction and the persistence of non‑recyclable waste in urban landscapes
