Arab Spring Monument - a tribute

   This monument honors the fallen heroes of the Arab Spring, who fought for the most fundamental human right: freedom. In December 2010, Mohammed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old fruit seller from Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia, set himself on fire in a tragic protest against government corruption. His act of self-immolation—marked by raw rage, powerful sincerity, and monumental brevity—catalyzed widespread protests across the Arab world, signaling the beginning of the end for autocratic regimes in many Arab nations.
   As architects, we were profoundly moved by Bouazizi's sacrifice. His self-immolation, reminiscent of the moth-like disappearance in flames often depicted in Islamic poetry as a metaphor for spiritual growth, inspired our monument. Bouazizi's flames, ignited in Tunisia, served as the conceptual foundation for our design. Initially intended for Tahrir Square, the monument symbolizes the quest for freedom, both in the external world and within our hearts. It is envisioned to be erected in every city liberated from autocracy and corruption across the Arab world.
   We have submitted our design to numerous Arab embassies in New York for feedback. Radio silence. Evil is easy, good is hard; so let us work hard so that, Inshallah, we may be free.