Consciousness

“Consciousness” is a sculpture created by Mongolian sculptor A. Ochirbold. It was created in 2013 and received the “Audience Award” at an international art exhibition in 2014. It was later selected as the best work among submissions from 192 countries through a United Nations competition and was installed outside the UN Headquarters in New York on October 13, 2017.

The sculpture is made of steel and depicts a person bowing down, symbolizing self-reflection, recognizing one’s mistakes, and showing respect for nature and the Earth. The reflection of the sky on the base and the human footprint represent the inseparable connection between “consciousness” and the “mark” a person leaves behind.

A version of the sculpture was also installed near Sükhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar on September 22, 2021. It was intentionally designed so that people can approach it, stand on its base, and interact with the sculpture. By doing so, they can reflect on themselves, think about their actions, and look at life from a different perspective.