The 50-ton sandstone Buddha, titled 'The Light That Shines Through the Universe,' opened in late April 2026 above 10th Avenue, replacing Iván Argote’s giant pigeon 'Dinosaur.'
Nguyen’s sculpture pays tribute to the ancient Bamiyan Buddhas destroyed by the Taliban in 2001, with hands cast from melted Afghan artillery shells and sandstone sourced from Vietnam.
The installation, part of the High Line’s rotating art program, will remain on view through fall 2027 and reflects Nguyen’s ongoing exploration of war, displacement, and cultural resilience.
How can a static sculpture actively contribute to global peace and disarmament?
Does transforming war debris into art honor memory or erase brutal reality?
Why was a Vietnamese American artist chosen to memorialize an Afghan tragedy?
How does a lost Afghan Buddha find its echo in modern New York City?
What message do melted weapons send in an era of renewed global conflict?