The annual Burning Man festival is known for its impressive creations that, for just one week, are part of a community in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. Larger than life in stature, they’re seen and explored by thousands of attendees who all unite under 10 guiding principles including self reliance, participation, and inclusion.
The pieces this year vary in size, materials, and technical approach, but they’re unified under the theme of Da Vinci’s Workshop. Although this might sound limiting, it has proved to be limitless as sculptures and buildings are inspired by the 15th and 16th century Italian Renaissance. “Our story will focus on the republic of Florence,” the festival explains, “for it was here, in a city-state of about the same size and population as Black Rock City, that humanist ideals, a rediscovery of science, and funding from a newly moneyed class of entrepreneurs fueled a revolutionary cultural movement that redefined Western civilization.”
Most of the works at Burning Man don’t specifically pay homage to Da Vinci, but some come close—one recreates the artist’s famous Vitruvian Man on a circular frame as it stands tall on an octangular building, while another reveals the Mona Lisa on a perspective-based geometric installation. See how others interpreted the theme, below.
Above photo credit: @burningman
Video credit: @carla_noel
Photo credit: @lml89
Photo credit: @cliffbaise
Photo credit: Liu Jian
Photo credit: @michael.holden.photographer
Photo credit: @dougdoddphoto
Photo credit: @sweatshoplaborer
Photo credit: @dougdoddphoto
Photo credit: @mr_gq7
Photo credit: @uncle_sven
Photo credit: @accidentalhobo
Photo credit: @lavidafallera
Photo credit: @hmacpherson77
Photo credit: @tkanzaveli
Photo credit: @the_bethness
Photo credit: @michael.holden.photographer
