Almaty brings people together with “Unity” art installation celebrating human solidarity
Almaty has unveiled a bronze art installation in memory of the city residents who formed a human chain to rescue a dog. The monument has been placed on the embankment of the Sayran reservoir – the very site where the events took place. The project was initiated by ForteBank JSC and Progression agency, part of DASM group.
Some years ago a dog became stranded on the bank of the Sayran reservoir, unable to climb the steep concrete wall on its own. Several strangers stopped, joined hands and formed a human chain. The last person in the chain reached down to the animal and pulled it to safety. Someone filmed the moment on a phone – the video spread around the world, accumulating millions of views. In the comments, in dozens of languages, people wrote the same thing: that the human willingness to help is stronger than any circumstance.
The sculpture recreates that very scene. The hand of the last figure is deliberately extended beyond the railing — so that any passerby can take hold of it and become part of the humanity chain.
“This story is about people who did not walk away. It reminds us of what we are here for: to help and support one another. We are glad that the city now has a symbol of this simple yet meaningful gesture — one that anyone can literally become part of. For us, this is not just a project, but also a reminder of the value of human solidarity. Because at Forte, we believe: what one person cannot do alone becomes possible when we act together,” said a ForteBank JSC spokesperson.
The statue went viral and became global media sensation even before the official opening that was held on March 22. Two days before, during the installation process, first photos appeared in social media and the news went viral organically, in Kazakhstan and far-far away beyond its borders, from Spain to Vietnam, from Brazil to India.
At this time just one of the publications in Instagram gathered more than 2 million likes, 36 000 comments, and 40 millions views. Total organic reach, earned media forecast – more than 500 millions across the world. No people in 20 million population in Kazakhstan who doesn’t know about this art installation presented by ForteBank.
The art installation was created by Yerbosyn Meldibekov, one of the most prominent contemporary artists from Kazakhstan and Central Asia. His practice engages with historical documents, images, monuments, landscapes and figures, reinterpreting them through the lens of memory and identity. Meldibekov’s works are held in the collections of M HKA | Museum of Contemporary Art (Antwerp), Burger Collection (Hong Kong), M+ Museum (Hong Kong), the National Museum of Singapore, and other major institutions.
This project was supported by the Almaty city administration.
