Global sculpture project aims to reinterpret spiritual spaces through contemporary art

An international art project is aiming to reinterpret traditional depictions of the Buddha through contemporary sculpture. Created by Indian artists Joy Dutta and Dr Nilanjan Bandyopadhyay, the work departs from classical imagery, using welded steel sheets with a natural rust finish to explore themes of impermanence and emptiness. The large-scale piece features a hollowed face, allowing viewers to see the surrounding sky or landscape through it. The artists say this design element is intended to act as a “meditative window”, reflecting key ideas in Buddhist philosophy such as the transient nature of existence and the infinite. Designed for outdoor display, the sculpture is intended to interact with its environment over time, with weathering forming part of its evolving appearance. The creators describe it as a space for quiet contemplation rather than a static, indoor installation. Dutta, who works between Santiniketan and Utah, is known for abstract metalwork inspired by natural forms. Bandyopadhyay, also based in Santiniketan, works across poetry, calligraphy and tea arts, and has developed a distinctive East Asian–influenced Bengali calligraphic style alongside a meditative tea ritual. The project is in its early stages, but the artists hope to see the work placed in spiritually significant sites internationally, creating open-air spaces for reflection.