DESERT X

Desert X: A Burner's Playground By Alexandra Bonnet

I’ve always had a deep appreciation for art—the creativity, the story behind each piece, and the way it reflects the artist’s soul.But it wasn't until my first Burn in 2023 that I connected with art on a much deeper level. I met my partner, Reno, just a few weeks after he returned from his first Burn in 2022 and by April 2023, he encouraged me to reach out to the artist, Nino Alicea, who was assembling a crew for the burn. Next thing you know, I am building a giant pizza-scaled fish in the middle of the desert over a two week period! In 2024, we helped the same artist bring a giant frog to the Playa and it is safe to say that Reno and I are hooked! On the Playa, Reno and I always pick a day to bike around and visit the different art pieces but this year, we are taking a break as we are going to visit my family and friends in France! So, we were so thankful when we saw the Desert X exhibition taking place as it helped quench our thirst for an art tour!

On Easter morning, we took off with our nine month old labrador, Furiosa, and set on to find some of these pieces. The App they created is easy to navigate and it almost felt like we were going on a treasure hunt--or in honor of the holiday, an Easter Egg Hunt! Our first stop was the 'Unsui (Mirror)' by Sanford Biggers. A sequin-covered duo of clouds, the piece is 30 feet tall and shimmers bright on the light blue sky. "Clouds, a recurring motif in Biggers’ work, symbolize freedom, boundlessness, and interconnection. Drawing on Biggers’ study of Buddhism, these clouds — or unsui (“clouds and water” in Japanese) — embody unencumbered movement. Shimmering in the desert light, they evoke a feeling of timelessness and transcendence," as mentioned on the Desert X website.

Following this, we made our way to Desert Hot Springs where Alison Saar's 'Soul Service Station' garnered much attraction. What some of the art seekers did not know was that the conch shells held a secret but you had to put them up to your ear-- a tip we were given by the art support at the first piece. There was a tree adjacent to the piece which provided a sliver of shade amid the hot desert grounds. The piece provides "fuel for the soul," as mentioned on the Desert X website. We stuck around for a while, taking in every minor detail put into this final product.

Now this next one took a short walk with the sun hitting our backs but the reward was worth it. 'To Breathe -- Coachella Valley' by Kimsooja. Known for her work with sculptures, paintings, film, performance, and installations, through this piece, the artist pulls from different branches of experience. Kimsooja describes this installation as a “bottari of light," as mentioned on the Desert X website. What makes this piece stand out is that the reflection and light changes with the sun's schedule. It felt like stepping into a portal.

Last (but not least!) was 'Plotting Rest' by Kapwani Kiwanga. According to the Desert X website, "Kiwanga’s sculpture serves as a rest stop in the imagined pursuit of freedom." And that is exactly what we did! Finding solace amid this piece, we took a little extra time to take in the incredible day we had spent scavenging for the hidden gems across the valley. The shapes, colors, and materials were a perfect blend of opposites, creating a strong presence up against the San Jacinto mountains.

Art has proven century by century how powerful it can be. Infiltrating all areas of life, art is used as tool of beauty but also as a means to bring awareness, make change happen, and soothe one's soul. This Desert X project gives artists the platform to express many different things, unifying individuals and bringing a sense of peace. Images by Alexandra Bonnet