In the lead-up to elections in Burma, a group of monks in New York held an art exhibition on Tuesday to draw attention to the plight of Burmese political prisoners.

The art exhibition, made up of a giant interactive installation representing a Burmese prison complex, was presented by Human Rights Watch, in conjunction with creative agency JWT. It is aimed at shining a spotlight on what Human Rights Watch says are some 2,100 people being held in prisons in Burma because of their political views.

The art exhibition comes just days after the 65th birthday of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent 15 of the last 21 years in detention.

Monks living in New York gathered at the exhibition at Grand Central Station to express their anger at Burma’s ruling military junta and to call for the immediate release of all political prisoners.

[Ashin Nayak, Burmese Monk]:
"While we are standing here, thousands of activists, including many fellow monks and prisoners, are suffering severe treatment...we come here to seek support from U.S. government and international community to support us and increase international awareness of human rights crisis in Burma."

[Ashinya, Monk]:
"Military government regime has no loving kindness and no compassion. They have only very rigid, very wicked and very selfish. That's why I cannot believe, I cannot accept the election."

Commuters showed their support by signing a petition.

[Dennis Barnes, Commuter]:
"I hate when people can't be free to believe what they want. It's horrible. Some people take a lot of liberties with people's freedom."

[Carol Simon, Commuter]:
"I really don't think people should be imprisoned for political reasons. I believe in political freedom  – here or anywhere."

Burmese authorities have yet to set a date for the general election, but it will be the first in 20 years.