‘Ananta Buddha’: A global sculpture project aims to redefine spiritual spaces through contemporary art

A new international art initiative is seeking to reimagine the traditional image of the Buddha through a contemporary lens. Titled Ananta Buddha, the project features a large-scale metal sculpture that emphasizes emptiness, impermanence, and the infinite—key principles in Buddhist philosophy.Conceived by Indian artists Joy Dutta and Dr. Nilanjan Bandyopadhyay, the sculpture is a striking departure from classical depictions of the Buddha. Constructed using welded steel sheets and finished with a natural rust patina, the design intentionally leaves the face of the Buddha hollow—offering an open view of the sky or landscape beyond. According to the artists, this void serves as a meditative window, symbolizing both nothingness and boundlessness.Rather than a static indoor installation, the Ananta Buddha is intended for outdoor placement in various locations worldwide, creating open-air contemplative spaces that blend with their natural surroundings. The creators describe the sculpture as a reflection on simplicity, incompleteness, and the passage of time—qualities further emphasized by the slow, organic accumulation of rust on the metal surface.

Joy Dutta, a former software engineer and graduate of IIT Kharagpur and SUNY Stony Brook, now works between studios in Santiniketan, India, and Utah, USA. His focus lies in abstract metalwork, often exploring themes drawn from nature. Dr. Bandyopadhyay, based in Santiniketan as well, is known for his work in poetry, calligraphy, and the tea arts, and has developed a unique East Asian–inspired Bengali calligraphic style alongside a meditative tea ritual known as the Bodhi-Cha-Ceremony.The sculpture is currently available in multiple sizes and has been priced differently for SAARC and non-SAARC countries. Each version is crafted to order, with installation and transportation costs calculated separately. An emblem designed for the project combines Devnagari and ancient Brahmi scripts, linking the sculpture to historical Buddhist inscriptions such as Emperor Ashoka’s Lumbini Edict.While the project is still in its early stages, its creators hope to eventually see Ananta Buddha installed at spiritually resonant sites around the globe—quietly encouraging reflection in the midst of impermanence.