What is Art?
Vladmir Putin in front of the Kremlin Stars, Burning Man 2024
Our journey with the gold-framed portrait of Vladimir Putin was anything but ordinary. It began as a relic from a protest at the Mariinsky Theater in Kyiv in 2022, where it stirred a mix of emotions among those who saw it. Unsure of its next chapter, we pondered what to do with this provocative piece of art.
Transporting it to Burning Man seemed like a bold idea, but getting it there was a challenge in itself. We reached out to friends and finally connected with David and Tim from the Lightning Society. Without hesitation, they graciously agreed to transport our mysterious portrait—without even knowing what it depicted—in their van from New York to Black Rock City.
Boom Boom from Naga & The Captainess
Upon our arrival at Burning Man, we faced the daunting task of locating both our friend and the portrait. With no cell phone reception and only a camp address to guide us, we navigated the vast expanse of the playa. We wandered through a labyrinth of art installations and camps, relying on the occasional helpful stranger to point us in the right direction. After much searching, we finally found our friend’s camp and reclaimed the portrait.
At that moment, we hadn’t considered transforming it into an art installation; it was simply a piece we had brought along, uncertain of its purpose. We returned to our camp to rest, leaving the portrait for another day’s contemplation.
The following day, a chance encounter changed everything. As we biked across the playa, a stranger approached us, intrigued by Isaac’s unique tank top. Striking up a conversation, we discovered he was no ordinary festival-goer. He was the lead designer for the head of a gigantic Naga sculpture—the centerpiece of “The Naga & The Captainess”, one of the largest art installations at Burning Man that year.
Upon hearing about our portrait, he asked, “Why don’t you make it an official art piece?” His question ignited a spark. With his guidance, we learned how to register our piece with the Artery, Burning Man’s art office, where we met with CopperHead and Corry, who helped us secure an official placement for our installation.
he next challenge was logistical. We couldn’t simply place the portrait on the ground; it needed a proper mount. We roamed the playa and eventually found the Art Builds camp, a group of engineers from San Diego. With Gordon’s generous support, they generously donated wood and helped us construct a sturdy easel. Dan and Dani from the camp further offered their expertise, turning our vision into reality.
Lighting was another obstacle. We needed a solution that was entirely self-sufficient out in the open playa and would not create MOOP (matter out of place). After speaking with dozens of people, we eventually received the advice to get solar lights, and received a generous donation of solar string lights from Copper Head from the Artery (THANK YOU SO MUCH).
Transporting the assembled installation to its designated spot in the deep playa was the final step. Fellow Ukrainians from the Kurenivka camp, including Yaroslav and Zhenya, lent a hand. Like a true professional, Zhenya helped assemble the easel, ensuring the portrait stood tall against the desert backdrop.
Our installation invited burners to express their feelings face-to-face with the portrait. We hung markers from the frame, encouraging passersby to share their thoughts, emotions, and artistic expressions directly on the piece. It became a living artwork, evolving with each new contribution—a canvas for release and self-expression.
As the festival drew to a close, we contemplated the fate of our installation. Burning it seemed fitting, yet something held us back. That’s when we connected with Oles and Alex from Misto, a wonderful Ukrainian camp. They offered to help us dismantle the piece. During this process, someone proposed an alternative: “Why burn it? Let’s put it in a museum.”“Why burn it?” someone asked. “Let’s put it in a museum.”
To our amazement, one of the helpers was on the board of the Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago. He recognized the significance of the piece and offered to include it in an upcoming exhibit in November.
Throughout this journey, my partner Zhanna reflected on the essence of art. She wrote:
What is Art? 🤔
To me, art is an expression of emotion, a fleeting moment that exists right here, right now. I’ve been lucky in life to experience the highs of deep feeling and the appreciation of beauty, as well as seeing light and beauty through the darkness. There’s no escaping our feelings and emotions—in truth, there’s no escaping the self. The only way is through.
This year on the Playa, I invited burners to express their feelings face-to-face.
When I presented this piece in Kyiv in 2022, the responses were mixed, but an emotion was undoubtedly stirred within each viewer. That’s the goal: to allow yourself to feel and to release it from within.
We can dance it out, we can sing it through, we can paint and draw—each is a medium for release.
I’m grateful for the Playa’s magic at Burning Man and for the amazing team of very special people I met along the way 🙏
It takes a village, they say… and it certainly does. When people come together to create and support one another, magic leads the way ✨
🕊️
This experience was a testament to the power of community, serendipity, and the transformative nature of art. What began as a spontaneous idea evolved into an incredible journey, culminating in our artwork finding a permanent home in a museum.
Amazing.