Enormous 27-Foot Buddha Statue Set to be Erected on NYC’s High Line
This spring, a colossal sandstone Buddha will emerge over Manhattan on the High Line Plinth. Crafted by Vietnamese-American artist Tuan Andrew Nguyen, the grand sculpture is named The Light That Shines Through the Universe. The installation will be on display until fall 2027, providing a space for reflection in one of New York City’s most bustling public parks.
Nguyen’s artwork is inspired by the Bamiyan Buddhas, massive 6th-century statues carved into the cliffs of Afghanistan. The Taliban obliterated those figures in 2001, a destruction that resonated far beyond that locale. Rather than reconstructing the lost statues, Nguyen creates a new monument informed by memory, absence, and creativity.
The sculpture was based on historical images and descriptions of the Bamiyan Buddhas. He deliberately chose not to create an exact replica. Instead, he offers a reinterpretation that acknowledges both loss and resilience.
Nguyen named the work after the local designation of the Bamiyan Buddha, “Salsal,” which translates to The Light That Shines Through the Universe. This phrase highlights the project’s core concept: even when tangible objects disappear, cultural memory remains.
The sculpture, measuring 27 feet in height, is shaped from light brown sandstone, bolstered by a steel armature that supports its massive structure. Craftspeople in Vietnam constructed the piece in four segments, which were subsequently shipped to New York for installation.
In contrast to the original Bamiyan Buddhas, which were sculpted directly into rock faces, Nguyen’s sculpture is entirely freestanding. This necessitated a crucial creative choice. Given that the original statues lacked backs, Nguyen crafted one himself. By purposefully leaving the back less intricate than the front, the simplified surface encourages viewers to envision what is absent. It also stresses that history often reaches us in fragments.
One of the most impactful aspects of the installation is its hands. The original Bamiyan Buddhas had lost their hands long before their annihilation. Nguyen reimagined them from melted brass artillery shells and scrap metal sourced from Afghanistan.
The hands form traditional Buddhist mudras, gestures associated with compassion and fearlessness. Their polished metal surfaces starkly contrast with the rough sandstone body. Nguyen deliberately leaves a visible space between the hands and the figure, reinforcing the work’s themes of rupture and restoration.
Positioned above the city streets, The Light That Shines Through the Universe provides a moment of tranquility amidst urban hustle. The Buddha faces the skyline, engaging with its environment while remaining quietly introspective. The High Line will also feature meditation and wellness programs related to the installation. These activities extend the sculpture’s themes beyond mere visual experience and into collective contemplation.
Instead of claiming authority or control, Nguyen’s sculpture invites viewers to pause. It commemorates cultural loss without attempting to replace what history has erased.
On the High Line Plinth, The Light That Shines Through the Universe transcends being merely a monument. It serves as a reminder that memory, imagination, and empathy persist, even when stone does not.