Tuan Andrew Nguyen’s sandstone and brass take on the destroyed Bamiyan Buddhas reminds passersby that history repeats. April 24, 2026 — 3 min read Tuan Andrew Nguyen's “The Light That Shines Through the Universe” (2026) glimmers warmly on the High Line plinth (all photos Rhea Nayyar/ Hyperallergic ) Between the sea of sky-blue high-rise windows and the traffic funneling toward the Lincoln Tunnel, a large sandstone Buddha stands tall on the High Line, inviting Manhattan to embrace a moment of tranquility. Tuan Andrew Nguyen's “ The Light That Shines Through the Universe ” (2026), the park's fifth site-specific commission, was selected from nearly 60 proposals. It was recently installed at West 30th Street and 10th Avenue, and is on view through Spring 2027. The 27-foot-tall sculpture stands out from its contemporary surroundings not only because of its warmth and timeworn quality, but because it resurrects a critical piece of destroyed cultural heritage — the Bamiyan Buddhas.…