by ChristianIseli

Behind the Shiny Surfaces of the Smartphone Industry

For his research, PhD candidate Gabriel Kamundala (University of Zurich) documented the complex work processes of artisanal mining in the Kamituga region (Democratic Republic of Congo). He provided revealing insights into small-scale mining as well as fascinating portraits of the workers.

Portraits in motion

Mining sites in Kamituga

Processing raw material

Trading gold in the local store

Live photos and video by Gabriel Kamundala, © ZHdK 2021

Digital Gold at the Futurium

Part of the original exhibition ‘Kamituga | Digital Gold’ is now on display at the Futurium in Berlin. Interviews with artisanal mining workers and local business people as well as a 3D modell of a Kamituga mine can be seen as part of the Futurium’s theme year on raw materials. On the opening day, a VR experience invited the visitors to enter digital versions of the Kamituga gold mines.

Digital Gold in Prague

The project 'Kamituga | Digital Gold' was part of the 15th edition of the Prague Quadrennial, on 8-18 June 2023. For a special installation, the Immersive Arts Space crew collaborated with the MA program Stage Design of the Zurich University of the Arts.