The ‘Phoenix’ sculpture from Burning Man has been installed in front of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs building (PHOTO)
‘Phoenix’ is an eight-metre-tall steel sculpture in the shape of a bird, symbolically evoking the Ukrainian trident. During the work’s presentation at the 2023 Burning Man independent art festival, it was encased in a wooden box – similar to the protective structures used in Ukraine to shield monuments from Russian missiles. The Ukrainian team set the box alight – and from the flames emerged the metal ‘Phoenix’ as a metaphor for Ukrainian reality: that which was meant to destroy us has instead revealed our true nature.
‘Phoenix’ in the Black Rock Desert in the US proved that Ukraine is capable of sharing its own unique experience and culture with the world and engaging with it as an equal.
‘Whilst working on the “Phoenix”, we sought to give the international community an insight into what is happening in Ukraine. To showcase our strength, rather than our pain, particularly through art. In the desert, this sculpture drew people in, mesmerised them and made foreigners feel our resilience. Now its place is in Kyiv. This is how we remind everyone – and ourselves – that we are walking through fire and preserving our identity,” emphasised Mitya Zinoviev, director of the “Workshop of Wonders”.
The appearance of the ‘Phoenix’ in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building gives the work a new lease of life in a fresh context. The installation, which at Burning Man spoke about Ukraine to an international audience through the language of contemporary art, now stands beside the institution that represents Ukraine to the world every day.
‘The Phoenix’ is not only becoming a symbol of resilience but also a symbol of cultural diplomacy – Ukraine’s ability not only to endure and rebuild, but also to transform its own experience into new ideas that it can share with the world.
“The appearance of ‘Phoenix’ outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is symbolic and significant. The sculpture will serve as a reminder, particularly to foreign visitors, of Ukraine’s will, resilience and indomitability. Ukraine has endured against all odds, whilst the enemy has failed to achieve any of the strategic objectives of its aggression. We have not only survived, but have also emerged stronger. Today, our country is a security partner and contributor with unique experience. The ‘Phoenix’ metaphor symbolises the Ukrainian miracle of the 21st century,” emphasised Foreign Minister Andrii Sibiga.
The visual concept for the sculpture was created by Oleksii Sai in collaboration with Bohdana Kosmina, on the initiative of Vitalii Deineha. The engineering and technical aspects of the project were undertaken by the ‘Workshop of Wonders’ design bureau, with the support of the American charitable foundation, the UA Resistance Foundation. Alla Lopatkina was the producer and project leader. The logistics partner was ‘Nova Poshta Global’.
The story of ‘Phoenix’ and other Ukrainian art installations for Burning Man also featured in the documentary ‘Castles in the Sand’ – a project by Fozzy Media Group in partnership with ‘Workshop of Wonders’. The film documents the stories of Ukrainian artists and teams who conceived and realised large-scale works for Burning Man and, through contemporary art, presented Ukraine to an international audience.
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