Buddhas Reimagined Above NYC: A 27-Foot Memorial on the High Line

Vietnamese American artist Tuan Andrew Nguyen unveils a 27‑foot sandstone sculpture on the High Line’s Hudson Yards plinth, reimagining the Bamiyan Buddhas destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. While not an exact replica, the work features carved sandstone with two steel hands that float above the stone, cast from melted Afghan artillery shells to symbolize fearlessness and compassion. Named after Bamiyan locals’ nickname for the larger Buddha, ‘Salsal’ (the light shines through the universe), the piece is meant as a site of memory and inquiry and resonates with today’s wars. It will be on display through fall 2027 and will be activated with monthly lectures and guided meditation sessions.