Viable Visions: Retrospective of Martin Abasi Phiri (马丁）

Poster Abstract: Viable Visions is a retrospective of Martin Abasi Phiri (马丁, 1957-1997), a luminary of Zambian contemporary art and an alumnus of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, who left an indelible imprint on the nation’s cultural art scene. Initiated and curated by Lifang Zhang in collaboration with Lusaka Contemporary Art Centre, Zambian National Visual Arts Council and Evelyn Hone College, the project is a return to his gifts, visions, and promises that transcend his lifetime and continue to echo in the present. It includes an exhibition, a symposium and a publication, weaving together the restoration of artwork and the digitisation of archives. The exhibition features MAP’s sculptures, paintings, drawings, and installations that traverse a spectrum of mediums. Alongside these works, a rich assemblage of archives—sourced from his family, friends, institutions, and networks across the globe—offers a deeper glimpse into his world. The symposium gathers MAP’s family, friends, and fellow travellers from both past and present to engage in a dialogue that rekindles the sparks of his practice and unveils its enduring inspirations within the contours of our present moment.