Contractors working on the Longacres Fly Over Bridge have brought down a Rhino sculpture which was one of the most significant contemporary environmental art pieces Lusaka had.
Alexis Phiri of Kachere Arts Studio, the artist behind the Rhino sculpture said he is hurt and disappointed.
Now Mr Phiri has revealed that he is to go into a hunger strike starting on Thursday until the Rhino issue is resolved.
He is also appealing to Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa for intervention and ensuring that the Rhino is restored to its original form and if need be, relocated to another site for it to continue sending its message.
He said the Rhino sends a message on the need to protect, preserve and appreciate the environment by not polluting it with plastic which is not biodegradable and also reminds the public of the need to protect wildlife.
Mr Phiri said the Rhino was adding beauty to the City of Lusaka.
And another artiste Boyd Chibale who visited the site where the Rhino was based said destroying the sculpture in that manner is the worst kind of irresponsibility, lack of respect for the arts, lack of appreciation of the symbolism in information dissemination.
Mr Chibale said the development also shows a lack appreciation of the need to protect and preserve wildlife and ultimately and show about regard and respect to those who appreciate art of this nature.
“Mr Miles Sampa should intervene. The Ministry of Tourism and Arts should come in so should The Ministry of Local Government and Housing, ZEMA, National Arts Council, artists and all citizens that appreciate nature and arts.”
Whoever this contractor is has revealed that they are full of malice and disdain for art. It’s criminal trashing the artwork for any reasonable person would have considered ethical value and effort that was devoted and that the artifact belonged to ‘someone’ being the city and art lovers! The habit of disrespecting others hiding behind reasoning that developing the road was more important than a mere statue is inexcusable! The contractor should have had sense to ask what would become of the artwork! Head or heads need account!
Too bad they were supposed to remove it properly
why did not they just relocate it and later restore it at the same roundabout being built sure. The council is to blame. They have a culture of letting the contractor do as they please.
They’ve destroyed more than sculptures! Trees that are older than most of the contractors’ grandparents have been cut and rubbished instead of alternatively being re-planted in other locations; such callousness is very unfortunate. I am sure there are lot of people — including myself — who would gladly contribute to relocation of some of these fixtures and trees being destroyed with impunity.
This is the problem with hunger stricken people, they have no sense of deep value of things. It was such a beatiful piece. Who is the site manager of the road works? Imbwa izi.
Looks like it was demolished before they touched it. Why was it not being taken care of all along?
construction works, yes…but bring back our Rhino
I am an environmentalist, but that sculpture was an eye soar. Good it was pulled done. Maybe we can get a better one. Worse it was erected right in front of WWF Offices. Good riddance.
Ah? i live in longacres and watched Alexis put that up day by day…Those road contractors shud put that up. our very own monument
But why didn’t they just shift it to a different place within the same location instead of bringing it down
THAT IS STUPIDITY AND IRRESPONSIBILITY OF WORSSE KIND THE CONTRACTOR SHOULD HAVE FOLK LIFTED THE SCULPUTURE TO ANOTHER LOCATION EVEN AT ONE OF THE SHOPPING MALLS , SCHOOLS, CIVIC CENTRE OR AT THE HIGH COURT ROUND ABOUT. THE THE DESTRUCTION IS NOT 100% THE CONTRACTOR CAN STILL MEET THE OST OF RECONSTRUCTION BY ARTISIT PHIRI. ITS ONLY IN ZAMBIA WHERE CONTRACTORS DESTROY THINGS WITHOUT DUE CONSIDERATION. LUSAKA CITY COUNCIL SHOULD DO SOMETHING URGENTLY.
Sad development ?… This is a set back in the fight for the protection of our environment and the strides being made towards climate change
More important things in life than a sculpture. Infrastructure Development is more priority. Those that want the rhino can go and collect it and place it in their living room
They should take it to another place
Zambians are mostly *****s. Making noise on rubbish
On the one hand I support art, on the other that thing does not look like art, but weird and disturbing. Just like the lion at that one roundabout in Ndola kikiki.
Too bad hope they find a better place to put it
Our road contractors do not care to clean up after digging. Heaps of soil dug to constructhalf hazard ly drainage systems have remained in collected. This soil is falling back into the drainages and blocking the flow of water. This is true on Lake Rd and Nalikwanda rds. But we are grateful that the council has replanted trees cut down Hy the contractor
Reconstruct that Rhino sculpture to its original form and find space for it within Longacres area. That is a good piece of contemporary art. Sad development indeed.
This is sad. Do they even have intentions of putting it back after the works…
really sad i feel your pain Mr Phiri, an even bigger one is needed at a new location