Chinese sculptor Lei Yi Xin, the chiseler of the soon-to-be-unveiled Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, has now finished his work on the piece, located near the Tidal Basin. Oh, did we mention that Lei sculpted the 28-foot memorial from memory?

Speaking in Mandarin, Lei says this project is the most significant in his lifetime: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a such a significant person in history. He is not only an American hero. He is also our world’s hero. It is also a huge significance that I am working on a project in the capital of the United States.

Lei says he admires Dr. King for his fight for equality among people of all races.

“[Lei] can finish the work of Dr. King and there’s no pictures around. He didn’t bring any pictures with him. He’s doing it all from memory,” says Mieko Preston, an associate architect.

That’s mighty impressive.

The memorial is expected to be dedicated on August 28; the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation Project, which planned and managed the construction of the memorial, is attempting to raise $8 million by that date to help defray the $120 million cost of construction.