Despite the above aspect of Burning Man, there is some serious art that goes on there. I was unable to see or photograph any of it due to my own artistic endeavor (described here), but what little I did see impressed me that this is more than a bunch of amateurs (although I am one) pretending to be artists. Moreover, viewing web site images of Burning Man for this and prior years should convince you of the same.
The interesting part of doing art at Burning Man is the venue. It is a huge, flat and (normally) empty area. Its sheer size dwarfs the art. On the other hand, the large space available for each piece gives them a stage of isolation in which to present its message or imagery unencumbered by undesired or imbalancing surroundings.
Moreover, the desert venue with its lighting, color and weather plus the Burning Man event with its people and ambiance add to the potential experience. The art thus becomes part of something that is transient and unique, not repeatable anywhere else. The art is not an isolated art-piece, despite its solitary existence on the expanse of empty space it may occupy, because it is part of something grander and is intricately involved with that something and the experience of being a part of that something.
My interest in Burning Man is precisely because of its expansive and nearly virgin venue. It invites doing large scale pieces that cannot normally be accommodated elsewhere. It invites doing large sculptures of geometric nature that both contrast with and enhance the simplicity of the desert emptiness.
Please enjoy the pictures that follow. Many of them are of my art installation ("Enigma"). Regretably, I did not have time to take photos of other art installations.
You may select photos to view or start with the first on the list and use the "next" hotlink to walk through the set.