"What happened to the Buddhas of Bamiyan is not unique and is particularly resonant for many people across this country today who face a real fear of erasure and cultural persecution. A work of this magnitude requires a platform of equal magnitude, and I hope its debut on the Plinth offers people a powerful place to connect and find strength in this moment."
"The location in Afghanistan where the original statues were destroyed is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But all that remains are original empty niches carved out of the mountain where the statues once stood. Prior to their destruction, the Bamiyan Buddhas held deep significance across different cultures and religions, even as Afghanistan shifted to become a predominantly Islamic nation."
The Light That Shines Through the Universe is a 27-foot sandstone Buddha carved in Vietnam by Tuan Andrew Nguyen. The statue will be placed on the High Line Plinth over 10th Avenue and 30th Street in spring 2026 and remain on view for 18 months. The work serves as a tribute to the Bamiyan Buddhas, monumental sculptures in Afghanistan destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. The Bamiyan site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where only empty cliff niches remain. The installation is presented as an act of remembrance and cultural preservation intended to resonate with those facing erasure.
Read at www.amny.com
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