The Burning Man festival, known for its unusual installations and stunning desert setting, expanded this year with a series of temporary structures spread across Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. The theme of the 2024 festival is “Curiouser & Curiouser”, inspired by the work of Lewis Carroll Alice in Wonderlandencouraged participants to embrace wonder and whimsy.
At Burning Man, a tapestry of themes emerges through various installations, from meditations on connection and separation to explorations of time and space. Installations such as the Nebula Shroom Grove and the Together Temple emphasize community and unity, inviting collaboration and participation. Pieces like “I’m Fine” and Circle of Trees focus on universal emotions and humanity’s connection to the infinite, while pieces like “Matter of Time” and “The End of Time” play with the perception of time and reality.
Read on to discover 8 art installations from the Black Rock Desert in western Nevada that will be built by 2024.
Groove Nebula Shrom
Education collection
Created by an international collective led by artists Silvia Rueda, Ana Maria Ortiz and Lina Castaneda, Nebula Shroom Grove is an art installation that reflects on loneliness in the midst of our hyper-connected society. Inspired by the interconnected life of fungi, it features modular structures that resemble natural networks. Each module acts as a mini-shelter, inviting guests to relax and connect. Nebula encourages community collaboration and highlights the difference between disconnection and connection while celebrating the power of community.
I’m fine
Alexey Sai
“I’m Fine” captures the universal emotions of joy, sadness, anger, fear, and love, highlighting the common response of saying “I’m fine” despite inner struggles. Created by Kyiv-based artist Oleksiy Say, this installation resonates particularly with Ukrainians who face ongoing challenges both personally and as a nation, but the installation’s intended message is universal and shared across cultural boundaries.
Other
Only Levin
This year’s photo booth features tall wooden walkways that emphasize the gathering. The design includes a negative space under the structure and creates an open area with interconnected benches for gathering. Lewin emphasizes the balance between interior and exterior spaces, focusing on both the form and spaces between social interactions.
Together temple
Caroline Ghosn
The Together Temple, designed by Caroline Ghosn, BIPOC’s first female temple artist, blends neo-Gothic, art deco and Lebanese Khaizari textiles. The 2024 Burning Man Temple, chosen from an international competition, is 94 feet in diameter and 70 feet high, symbolizing unity and spirituality. Using sustainable materials, it invites participation from all skill levels. The design pays homage to temples of the past and creates a familiar and welcoming atmosphere.
Tree circle
Eira Mooney and Alkem
The Tree Circle installation creates a deep connection between humanity and the infinite, aiming to remind us of our small and infinite place in the universe. It consists of seven natural bamboo trunks, resembling hollow and burnt trees, and is an eternal symbol of nature. The design creates circular spaces that promote collective harmony through spatial and acoustic design.
The subject of time
MJ and Colin, Glass House Arts
Matter Out of Time (MOOT) is an art installation that resembles a shiny ball and stick, partially embedded in a playa, and aluminum tubes that span 25 feet. It has a captain’s station, controls and internal screens, and at first appears to be inactive. Once the launch sequence is activated, it comes to life with flash, video playback, and the sound of trombones, creating an imaginary journey through time.
Penumbra
ArtBuilds collective
Penumbra is a geometric structure in the desert that appears as a wooden monolith during the day. At sunset, as the central light, it casts dynamic shadows on the desert floor, creating a poetic play of light and darkness. Participants can adjust the brightness of the light to increase interaction and conversation. When not manually controlled, the light moves automatically, adding to its appeal.
The end of time
Andrea Greenlees and Andy Tibbetts
The 22-foot-tall surrealist art installation depicts a “killed” clock, symbolizing the cessation of time and the eternal state of Teatime. This striking yet disturbing piece features a climbing and collapsing clock pierced by a giant sword, with distorted dials and hands. It sits atop a giant cupola that seats six people and creates an intimate atmosphere. Inside it hangs a mysterious key that adds a mysterious touch.
#interconnected #mushroom #garden #shelter #desert #sun #installations #Burning #Man