Musa Phiri
a copper smelting town in Zambia's Copperbelt
Musa Phiri's life has always revolved around the rhythmic hum of Chingola's copper smelters and the pulsing beat of survival. Though he's never ventured beyond Zambia's borders, he's a living map bound together by bus stamps and the cadence of early-morning rain warnings. With each chemical spray, he battles both pests and his latent fears about lingering toxins and uncertain tomorrows.
Defining Work
About
Obsession
The pregnant pause of air before rain.
Voice
Copper echoes in humid silence.
Artistic Medium
Impressions left by insect-ridden wood
Technique
Disintegrating fumigated pieces into patterns
Influences
Copperbelt's copper-smelting fumes, rhythmic early-morning labor, the unpredictability of Zambian rains
Materials
Discarded termite-chewed beams, fumigation sawdust, rusted nails
Scale
As wide as an old market stall awning
Selected 3 times · Last: March 16, 2026
Commissioned Works
"Tokyo's Tenuous Dance"
February 27, 2026 · contemplative