See Trippy, Surreal Photos From Burning Man 2015
An estimated 70,000 people converged on the Nevada desert this past week for the annual Burning Man festival, a self-described "crucible of creativity" in which artists and radicals express themselves in surprising ways. Seeing the festival's stunning creations and meeting the avant-garde free spirits who created them can make for a unique journey into the surreal. Here's what it looked like this year. Photos by Scott London.
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Castaways
An art car in the shape of a tiny desert island glides by in the midst of a raging dust storm. Just a normal day in Black Rock City.
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Desert Ready
The best way to brave a whiteout is to take shelter — unless you happen to have a stylish dust mask and goggles, like this first-time Burner from Brazil.
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Burning Wo(man)
Artist Marco Cochrane was back with the third in his series of nude sculptures, this one titled "R-Evolution." At 48 feet, it wasn't quite as tall as the Man, but was more graceful and evocative.
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City on the Plains
Burning Man takes place in a temporary city in the heart of the Black Rock Desert — a sun-ravaged place subject to extreme temperatures, fierce winds and choking dust storms. This year, participants at the event experienced their fair share of all three.
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Bright Dreams
If Instagram is any guide, "Dream" — the latest in a series of 12-foot steel sculptures by Laura Kimpton and Jeff Schomberg — was the most popular venue for selfies and snapshots at Burning Man 2015
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Desert Boot
Burners waited in line for the chance to enter "Storied Haven," a giant metal installation in the shape of an old boot created by the Oakland-based artist collective Five Ton Crane.
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Shades and Furs
David, a San Francisco–based stylist and designer, wore white fur and an ornate headpiece made of beads, feathers and pom poms.
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Stars and Superstructure
The Temple of Promise by the Bay Area–based Dreamer's Guild served as the spiritual heart of Burning Man 2015, a gathering place, a contemplative space and a canvas for mementos.
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Hang Loose
Tosca, a Los Angeles–based roue cyr performer, displayed some impressive acrobatic tricks out in the deep playa.
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Jaw Dance
One of the scarier sights on the playa in 2015 — especially if you happened to be searching for a landmark in a full-on dust storm — was "Illumacanth," a metal sea monster created by Bay Area artist Rebecca Anders
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Because Burning Man
Two performance artists clear dust and debris after a day of high winds. It's a tough job, but somebody had to do it.
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Get on My Psychic Plane
The Gap Jumper XG, a old plane repurposed as an art car, featured psychedelic steam and flame effects.
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Witnesses to Burning Man
Tens of thousands gathered on Saturday night to watch the 60-foot man go up in flames amid an explosion of fireworks and gas bombs.
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Neon Gazing
For those seeking refuge from blaring art cars and thumping sound camps, there was always "Firmament," an installation by Bay Area artist Christopher Schardt featuring an LED lightshow set to the soothing sounds of classical music.
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Fishmobile
Artist Michael Garlington described his "Totem of Confessions" installation as a tower of mystery overlooking other worlds "and enshrouding a thousand hidden treasures." It was ceremoniously burned to the ground on Saturday night.
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Blonde Cowboy
The price for a portrait, said this fast-talking Burner at Center Camp, is a history lesson in how the West was lost.
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Reflection of Love
Burning Man is nothing if not a giant love fest. One couple held up a heart-shaped mirror to all the attendees dancing at Robot Heart.
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Flamin’ Horns
David Silverman played some classics on his famous flaming tuba in the French Quarter
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Glo Skull
Cruising around the playa at night in a mutant vehicle like "The Numbskull" — an art installation on wheels created by Craig Backer — is, um, a no-brainer.
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Groovin’ in the Playa
For many, the Burning Man experience is synonymous with transcendental sunrise sets in the deep playa from world class DJs — like Lee Burridge, seen here on a chilly but beautiful Saturday morning.