Photos By Gail

For Cannupa Hanska Luger (b. 1979)  the Bison is a symbol of Indigenous resilience and sovereignty. The mass slaughter of North American bison from 1845 to 1895 by settlers of European descent took place for profit, dominion over land and westward expansion. The strategic removal of this vital source of food, clothing, shelter and spiritual reverence for the Great Plains Native American populations forced their assimilation into western culture. It was also an ecological disaster with long lasting effects.

Luger, an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold from the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara and Lakota cultures, is a descendant of buffalo people. His sculpture, Attrition, recently installed in Central Hall Park, is a 10-foot long, larger-than-life skeletal sculpture made from steel with an ash black patina.

The arresting form emerges from the soil beneath, visible through grasses indigenous to this region. The work highlights the profound interdependence between animals, humans and the land, drawing attention to the loss, trauma, and violence that can result from a single disruption in an ecosystem. Placed on the pathway leading to City Hall, Attrition symbolically engages with NYC’s heart of policy-making, bringing to light the history of the bison’s survival.

Cannupa Hanska Luger’s Attrition Will be on View Through November 17th, 2024.