A 'Phoenix' in the Form of the Ukrainian Tryzub Sculpture Was Set on Fire at the Burning Man Festival
At the Burning Man cultural festival, a sculpture in the form of the Tryzub, created by Ukrainian artists Oleksiy Sai and Bogdana Kosmina, was unveiled before undergoing a burning ritual.
This was reported by CNN.
Initially, the sculpture was concealed in a wooden box resembling the wooden structures used to protect Ukrainian monuments from Russian missile attacks.
"Today, at one of the world's largest cultural events, Burning Man, our sculpture was born through fire. It was surrounded by a box, like monuments in our squares. But a few hours ago, it became a fiery column, from which the Phoenix was born, 3 meters high. With Alla Lopatkina, the Stroom Art team, and artists Liosha Sai and Bogdana Kosmina, we really wanted this work to happen. And we did it",- said the project's initiator, Vitaliy Deynega.
According to the project's creators, fire became an integral part of the installation, transforming the 'Phoenix' into a new form and color.
When the fire extinguished, the sculpture in front of the audience resembled both the Ukrainian Tryzub and the mythical Phoenix, which, according to legend, was reborn in flames.
The sculpture was a direct reference to Ukraine and Ukrainians who continue their struggle against the brutal aggression of the Russian Federation.
"The allegory of this work is very simple. They wanted to destroy us as a nation. But fire tempered us. We emerged from the fire, and it only made our skin tougher and us stronger. We were reborn through fire. And even though we didn't choose this for ourselves, we coped with it and continue to fight every day»,- added Deynega.
It's worth noting that this is the first instance where festival organizers allowed the burning of any installation other than the traditional wooden human figure, which is traditionally burned on the festival's last day.
Burning Man is taking place in the Black Rock Desert this year, located in the state of Nevada, and will last until September 4th.
Previously, another Ukrainian sculpture, "The Hedgehog Temple," dedicated to soldiers and citizens who died in the Russian war in Ukraine, was presented at the festival.
"The installation consists of a cluster of anti-tank hedgehogs arranged in the form of a hedgehog-animal. These anti-tank hedgehogs symbolize Ukrainian defense and unity. Thousands of hedgehogs were welded together by ordinary Ukrainians to ensure the safety of their communities in the early stages of the war",- the project organizers reported.
The main goal of the installation is to raise one million dollars to purchase evacuation vehicles and save thousands of lives.
Burning Man is a globally renowned festival of independent art. It has been held annually since 1986 in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, USA. Various art objects are installed in the desert during the festival, and it concludes with the burning of a giant wooden human figure.