The Story Behind the Art
The story of this artwork began with the magic of the Playa.
During my first Burning Man, I brought with me a collage with a photo of my cousin; Zakhar, who in early 2022 followed the call of his heart, left everything behind and went to defend his country. Sadly, he never returned.
On the last day of the festival, something truly extraordinary happened. My travel companion noticed a message in one of the Burning Man chats that said:
Please, if anyone knows who placed Zakhar's photo in the Temple, reach out.
I immediately knew it was about my cousin. I contacted the message sender, and it turned out to be Zakhar's childhood friend; who hadn't known what had happened to him until he saw that photo in the Temple.
I was deeply moved by how; among 70,000 people, it was he, by chance and yet not by chance; who came across that image and, throughout a chain of coincidences, found me.
In that moment, I realized I wanted Zakhar's story to live on, as a story of love, courage, and remembrance. That's how the idea of creating this art piece was born, a tribute to him and to all defenders who shared his fate.
The image we seek to bring to life is based on a 3D character created by Zakhar himself. This robot has already been to Burning Man with me, printed on the collage with his photo. Back in 2019, when he designed it, he somehow foresaw the future of portraying a strong, brave warrior in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine.
Now I feel it is my mission to bring this character into the physical world. As a symbol of resilience, inner strength, and memory. Through it, I wish to tell a story of love for one's homeland, of sacrifice, and of the beauty of human spirit that cannot be defeated.
— Liza Kormilets
