BEHIND THE SCENES OF BURNING MAN: ASSEMBLY, HEAT, AND UKRAINIAN ART

The first week in the Black Rock Desert and preparations for the Burning Man festival were very intense.

Two and a half hours of sleep, and then back on your feet. All day under the sun, when the heat burns your shoulders, and in the evening you work in a jacket because it's cold and bats are flying overhead. Dust is everywhere: half a kilo on your pants, in your eyes, in your hair. There is a lot of discomfort, but it somehow dissolves here because there is an extraordinary community of artists, ideas, and beauty that exceeds all expectations.

Each section of the sculpture weighs hundreds of kilograms, and lifting and securing it requires precision and coordination. We work with metal all day long, drilling holes, tightening screws, bringing our vision to life. The work is physically demanding and technically complex, but when you see the structure gradually rising from the desert dust, you feel that it is worth it. 

 One of the most enjoyable things was to hang the Ukrainian flag immediately after assembling the first part of the sculpture.

It was a great honor to be at Burning Man and raise the Ukrainian flag among the world's largest art community. Here, everyone sees Ukraine, talks about us, and supports us. And when our mirrors reflect the endless space at sunset, with the blue and yellow flag standing nearby, it is a moment that makes it all worth it to go through the dust, heat, and fatigue.