A famous story of human kindness and cohesion, ten years later, has been cast in metal — the art object was installed over the riverbed of the Big Almaty River, which flows into the Sayran reservoir.
The sculptural composition recreates the moment of a dog rescue that touched millions of social media users in 2016, when a dog fell into the reservoir and a young man climbed down to reach it but could not make his way back up the steep revetment. Bystanders joined in, forming a human chain by linking arms and managing to pull out both the dog and the man.
A video of the incident went viral, garnering around 15 million views on Daily Mail’s Facebook page and 6.5 million views across other social media platforms. Media outlets around the world reported on the dog rescue.
The art object was installed on March 18. The composition depicts people holding onto one another’s arms, symbolizing unity and mutual support. Almaty city administration told Kursiv LifeStyle the sculpture was privately funded, with no city budget involved. The project was approved by the Department for the Development of Public Spaces.
«The concept behind the installation is built on the idea of mutual support, solidarity, and unity. The composition features figures of people linked together in a chain, symbolizing support and collective action in overcoming challenges. It is based on an image that has resonated widely with the public and reflects values that are close to the heart of every resident,» the statement read.
