Limited Editions: 13x20" (25), 22x32" (7), 42x52" (3)
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The statue was built to celebrate the 60th anniversary of fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuck. At 177ft (54m), the statue is one of the largest Buddha rupas in the world. The first time I visited the statue, it was still under construction. The workers felt privileged to be part of this project. They showed me the inside and told me stories about hidden passages. But the most memorable moment was climbing the steep hill behind the Buddha and to be blessed by his view of the world.
Stepwells were built all over Northern India to collect water during the rainy season. Steps were built to access the water at any time of the year. Women worked like clockwork getting the water at the same time each day. Their pace walking down the stairs was brisk with their jar carried on their hip. On the uphill, they carry their jars on their heads.
These are the children of the road workers. The Bhutanese government hired their parents to build roads through what seems to be impassable terrain. The kids are raised on the side of the road in basic camps with no schools, no playgrounds, no sanitary amenities. When they see visitors, they are intrigued and can’t comprehend that you could have traveled from the opposite side of the world. They are curious, but also streetwise.
