Amanda Arrou-tea – The Power of Femininity in Colour and Water

Artist Amanda Arrou-tea, better known as Mandi Oh, was born in San Sebastián, in the Basque Country of Spain. Her art is deeply rooted in the connection between femininity, water, and the search for identity. Two of her stunning murals can be found at Teufelsberg in Berlin: Summer Solstice (2020) and Born Again (2024), the latter created as part of the Power of Female Art festival.

The Ocean as a Source of Inspiration

From an early age, Mandi Oh felt a strong connection to mermaids—not as mythical creatures, but as real, symbolic beings. This fascination followed her throughout her artistic journey. After completing her Fine Arts degree, she moved to Mexico, strategically settling near the cenotes—natural sinkholes filled with water—where she had once “discovered” her first mermaid.
Her travels eventually led her to Berlin, where she fully established herself as an artist. Her work reflects female empowerment and challenges the way the female body has been portrayed in a historically male-dominated art world.

Summer Solstice – A Monument to Freedom

The large-scale mural Summer Solstice spans nearly 120 square meters in the courtyard of Teufelsberg. It is part of her Mermaids series, which depicts women as confident, natural beings—free from societal expectations or sexualized depictions.

For Mandi Oh, water is the perfect medium to express this message. It symbolizes change, freedom, and the fusion of realism and abstraction. Her Mermaids represent women in their most authentic and powerful form, demanding to be seen and heard, rather than objectified. Summer Solstice captures the magic of a fleeting moment—an expression of vitality and independence.

Born Again – The Rebirth of a Woman

Four years later, in 2024, Mandi Oh created another mural at Teufelsberg during the Power of Female Art festival: Born Again. This piece is a tribute to women who undergo a profound transformation through motherhood.

The mural portrays Kristiana, a friend of the artist from Latvia, who had recently become a mother. With this work, Mandi Oh not only reflects on the physical process of giving life but also on the societal shift women experience after childbirth. Suddenly, they are seen primarily as “mothers,” while their previous identity fades into the background. Born Again celebrates this transformation and focuses on the woman as an individual—not just as a mother.

Feminism as a Guiding Theme

Feminist themes run through all of Mandi Oh’s works. She challenges the objectification of the female body and advocates for equality—removing the word “woman” from certain issues so they are recognized as universal concerns, not just “women’s problems.”
Her upcoming projects continue in this direction. She is currently collaborating with the EU and UNESCO on a new mural in Ustica, Sicily, highlighting climate change and the importance of marine conservation. In the future, she aims to evolve her style—moving away from hyperrealism toward a more fantastical and surreal artistic world.

A Lasting Impact

Mandi Oh’s murals at Teufelsberg are more than just impressive artworks; they carry a profound message. Her art subtly challenges perspectives, placing female experience, freedom, and self-determination at the centre. Through her Mermaids, the magic of water, and the strength of women, she leaves a meaningful mark on the Berlin art scene.