First look at Burning Man 2024: Discovering increasingly curious art installations
Every August, Nevada’s Black Rock Desert is transformed into a bustling city for Burning Man, a week-long festival that culminates in the ceremonial burning of a large wooden dummy. Launched in 1986, the festival is known for its unconventional art installations and striking desert backdrop. Although they vary in expression, the installations follow a central theme for the year. For this edition, the title “Curiouser & Curiouser” is inspired by the Mad Hatter from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and challenges participants to embrace the whimsical and mysterious. This year’s central temple installation was designed by Caroline Ghosn and is intended to represent togetherness and mutual respect. Following a Burning Man tradition, the temple design is chosen after an international competition.
Burning Man 2024 will take place from August 25 to September 2. For the first time in the last decade, this year’s edition did not sell out, as longtime attendees cite economic uncertainty, rising living costs and concerns about unexpected weather conditions. Last year, heavy rains flooded the desert and festival grounds, leaving behind thick, ankle-deep mud that made vehicle traffic impossible for several days.
Discover below the first images of Burning Man’s installations and pavilions straight from the desert.
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