A Story That Brought
People Together

A new bronze masterpiece has arrived in Almaty, dedicated to the city’s residents who once formed a human chain to rescue a dog in distress. The sculpture stands on the Sairan Lake embankment— the exact spot where this inspiring story unfolded. Currently in the final stages of installation, the official unveiling is set for March 22, 2026. This initiative was brought to life by ForteBank JSC.

The Story That Touched the World

In the summer of 2016, a dog found itself trapped by the steep concrete walls of the Sairan reservoir. Unable to climb out on its own, its fate seemed sealed—until the power of community took over. A group of strangers, having never met before, stopped what they were doing and grabbed each other’s hands. Together, they formed a living chain reaching down the embankment. The last person in line was able to reach the animal and pull it safely to shore.
The rescue was captured on a smartphone, and the footage instantly went viral, garnering millions of views worldwide. People from all corners of the globe left comments in dozens of languages, all sharing the same sentiment: human compassion is stronger than any obstacle

Become Part of the Chain

The sculpture meticulously recreates that very moment of unity. In a unique design choice, the hand of the final figure extends beyond the railing. This allows every passerby to reach out, take the hand, and symbolically become a part of the chain.

The installation was envisioned by Yerbossyn Meldibekov, one of the most distinguished figures in the contemporary art scene of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. His artistic practice involves a deep exploration and reinterpretation of historical documents, imagery, monuments, landscapes, and cultural icons.

• Meldibekov’s acclaimed works are held in the permanent collections of prestigious global institutions, including:
• M HKA | Museum of Contemporary Art (Antwerp)
• M+ Museum (Hong Kong)
• Burger Collection (Hong Kong)
• National Museum of Singapore
• ... and many others worldwide.