Whispers of Waste
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Whispers of Waste is a 13’ x 5’ x 5’ sculpture made from reclaimed scrap metal and stone, inspired by ancestral mask traditions of the Senufo people of the Ivory Coast. In Senufo culture, masks function as vessels of protection and connection, mediating between the physical and spiritual worlds while honoring lineage and continuity.
Installed at India Basin, a site defined by transition, resilience, and environmental renewal, the sculpture serves as a symbolic guardian within the waterfront landscape. Its vertical, human-scaled form anchors the open site, offering a quiet, contemplative presence that reflects the community’s relationship to land, water, and history. The use of reclaimed materials references the area’s industrial past while supporting its ongoing transformation.
Through cultural symbolism, local fabrication, and site-responsive design, Whispers of Waste becomes a meaningful landmark that reinforces India Basin as a place of connection between community, environment, and time.
About the Artist
Zulu Heru is a California-based sculptor whose work reimagines the cultural remnants of the African diaspora. Influenced by his studies at Howard University, he challenges colonial notions of African art, reclaiming forms such as the African mask as spiritual, political, and sublime works of fine art.
Working with salvaged materials, Zulu transforms what society discards into vessels of ancestral presence—embodying a long-standing Black tradition of turning scarcity into abundance. His practice is rooted in lineage and mentorship, guided by his godfather Uzikee Nelson, a pivotal figure in the Black artistic renaissance, whose legacy of creative liberation Zulu carries forward with reverence and innovation.
A former U.S. Army commissioned officer with over a decade of metal fabrication experience, Zulu brings exceptional technical fluency to his work. As an operating engineer and professional art handler, he has installed more than 100 monumental works nationwide, collaborating with artists including Rodin, Haring, Plensa, KAWS, and Sanford Biggers.
Zulu’s sculptures function as both monuments and talismans—collapsing time, honoring ancestry, and awakening the spirit within forgotten materials.
