With the annual American desert-set festival just taking place this last weekend, it’s apt that we look at this lavish oversized coffee table book.
While the event (and, indeed, the book) is not particularly in our sandbox, the fact it parallels to the superb 1973 classic The Wicker Man – certainly is. From its humble beginnings in 1986, the uniqueness of the festival – it doesn’t allow the usual trappings of what people are familiar with, there’s no big name bands on fancy stages, no corporate sponsors or advertising – certainly make it stand out and appear to be a special and stunning experience.
This book, therefore, is a visual delight. Chronically all aspects of the week-long celebration in beautiful detail, the images contained within exude a sereneness that the Black Rock desert location clearly has. It’s more than a festival; it’s a seven-day art installation. Attendees get involved, rather than merely experience and browsing the photographs is like taking a personal tour of an art gallery, each image is work of perfection, stunningly reproduced. With informative text supporting the images giving the full history and detail of the sixteen-year old festival, it’s an enthralling and beautiful read.
Fans of Mad Max will instantly want to book their ticket for next year’s event after reading the book, since it has all the hallmarks of a futuristic post-apocalyptic society, for those who may not want to spend that much on travelling or not willing to stand the heat, this book will provide a visual treat.
If you appreciate good photography, desolate landscapes, and weird art sculptures and things burning, this is for you… Simply luscious.
ART OF BURNING MAN / AUTHOR: NK GUY / PUBLISHER: TASCHEN / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
