N’KISI PHONE Information for curators and top collectors:

This artwork, Neo Spaziale mobilé: N’KISI PHONE, is a compelling acquisition for leading collections because it bridges centuries-old spiritual traditions with the most pressing geopolitical crises of our time.

The following is an argument for why this work is essential for curators and top collectors:

1. The Metaphor of the ‘Digital Curse’
Whereas the traditional African Nkisi served to channel spiritual forces and combat injustice, this work reinterprets the smartphone as the modern fetish object. It poses the question: is our technology a tool (spirit) or a controller (curse)? The physical nails in the device symbolize the breaking of digital shackles—from dopamine addiction to the destructive impact of social media.

2. Geopolitical Urgency: The “Blood Minerals”
The work is a material testament to the hidden costs of our innovation. By linking it to the Democratic Republic of Congo (the birthplace of the Nkisi and the primary source of cobalt for smartphones), it confronts the viewer with the ethical paradox of the tech industry. It is a tangible protest against the exploitation, ecological destruction, and strategic dependency that lurks behind every smoothly polished screen.

3. Neo-Spaziale Mobilé: A New Dimension
In the tradition of Spazialismo, this work breaks through the two-dimensional limitations of our field of vision. Its floating, mobile character suggests that the threat of the smartphone is both omnipresent and unstable. It is not a passive object, but a kinetic presence that claims space, just as technology infiltrates our physical and mental space.

4. Institutional Relevance
For museums and galleries, this work offers a unique opportunity to engage in dialogue about the energy transition, surveillance capitalism, and post-colonial responsibility. It’s a mind puzzle that forces the viewer to take a stand: will you reclaim positivity, or remain trapped by the smartphone curse?
In short: The N’KISI PHONE isn’t just a sculpture; it’s a ritual object for the 21st century. It’s a visually powerful tool that blurs the lines between art, ethics, and politics.

Neo Spaziale mobile 2025.10.15. N’KISI PHONE.

130 x 30 x 30 cm. Mixed materials: smartphones, iron, aluminum, paint, fibers.

Price upon request.

 

>The main disadvantages of smartphone use and electronics can be found in the previous page enclosed information: