Home / Art

Most Incredible Sculptures of AfrikaBurn 2013


AfrikaBurn is an annual event held in the deserts of the Tankwa Karoo in South Africa that invites artists to display their work and then eventually light it up in a blaze of glory, in true Burning Man fashion. The regional event, which most recently hosted approximately 6,500 people, follows the same eleven guiding principles as Nevada's famed Burning Man festival, encouraging “communal effort, decommodification and total expression of the self.”

Following the basic guidelines, the festival's 2013 Archetypes theme welcomed thousands of visitors and participants with some truly incredible installations. One of the most prominent figures included artist Daniel Popper's massive, 9-meter-high sculpture of a man with outstretched arms. The three-story structure was fitted with custom LED lights with seventeen different simulations programmed by Justin Eastman. Other structures ranged from abstract pieces of land art to illuminated pathways.

Check out some of the best photos of AfrikaBurn 2013, below.

Top photo via Ben Malandrios / Artist: Daniel Popper and Chris Shelvey / Artwork title: Reflection


Sarah Duff / Artist: Daniel Popper and Chris Shelvey / Artwork title: Reflection


Daniel Popper / Artist: Daniel Popper and Chris Shelvey / Artwork title: Reflection


Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Daniel Popper and Chris Shelvey / Artwork title: Reflection


Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Daniel Popper and Chris Shelvey / Artwork title: Reflection


Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Kim Goodwin / Artwork title: The Wattle Tower


Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Kim Goodwin / Artwork title: The Wattle Tower


Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Kim Goodwin / Artwork title: The Wattle Tower


Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Kim Goodwin / Artwork title: The Wattle Tower (Lara Kirsten performing on piano


ZA SiTES / Artist: Verity Maud / Artwork Title: Psychels


Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Verity Maud / Artwork Title: Psychels


Jonx Pillemer / Artists: Fata Morgana Crew / Artwork Title: Lizzie


ZA SiTES / Artists: Fata Morgana Crew / Artwork Title: Lizzie


Sarah Duff / Artist: Kim Goodwin / Artwork Title: The Earth Pods


Sean Furlong / Artist: Kim Goodwin / Artwork Title: The Earth Pods


Sarah Duff / Artist: Kim Goodwin / Artwork Title: The Earth Pods


Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Justin Eastman / Artwork Title: Tunnel of Questionable Enlightenment


Sean Furlong / Artist: Justin Eastman / Artwork Title: Tunnel of Questionable Enlightenment


Sarah Duff Artist: T.N.T / Artwork Title: Archeclan


Jonx Pillemer / Artist: T.N.T / Artwork Title: Archeclan


Jonx Pillemer Artist: T.N.T / Artwork Title: Archeclan


Simon Max Bannister / Artist: Simon Max Bannister / Artwork Title: Compression


Simon Max Bannister / Artist: Simon Max Bannister / Artwork Title: Compression


Simon Max Bannister / Artist: Simon Max Bannister / Artwork Title: Compression

AfrikaBurn website

Pinar

Pinar Noorata (she/her) is the Editorial Director at My Modern Met. She is a writer, editor, and content creator based in Brooklyn, New York. She earned her BA in Film and Media Studies from CUNY Hunter College. She has worked at major TV, film, and publishing companies as well as other independent media businesses. She also runs her own art & culture newsletter called The High Low. She first joined the My Modern Met team in 2011 as a Contributing Writer, pitching and publishing articles about a wide range of topics. Her expertise in visual media lends itself to in-depth analysis of varied art forms, including but not limited to painting, illustration, sculpture, installation, design, and photography. Pinar has a particular affinity for spotlighting up-and-coming artists, affording them a platform and offering a voice to lesser-heard individuals looking to break through, especially BIPOC creatives. She has helped multiple artists make a name for themselves and reach a wider audience over 10+ years as a writer and editor (both through long-form articles and short-form videos). When she isn’t writing, editing, or creating videos herself, Pinar enjoys watching films and TV, reading, crafting, drawing, frequenting museums and galleries, and volunteering at her local animal shelter.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits