The work is centred on the Vietnamese shrine dedicated to Thich Quang Duc, the monk who famously immolated himself. (Buddhists believe that self-immolation can bring about nirvana and therefore immortality.) Based on the Lotus Sutra, the open lotus in the monk’s hand symbolises the attainment of nirvana; all other lotuses remain closed. The text on the side reads: “We are eternal beings experiencing temporary bodies.”