Speakers for the Dead was an art project for Burning Man 2018: I, Robot

The piece was created as a celebration and remembrance of those we have loved and lost.

Speakers in the base whispered recordings throughout the week, some about those who have passed while others celebrated the sounds of life in its many forms.

In addition to the internal aspects of the piece serving as a memorial, its external sides contained a story of its own, revealed here for the first time:

• Each side was dedicated to one of the outer planets of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune.

• The triangles at the top are classic, elemental glyphs which are used here to represent the four planets.

• The code just under each triangle translates into values for mass and orbital period for that side’s planet.

• The encoded words below these values are some typical astrological qualities associated with the meaning of the planet.

• Each side “faces” the cardinal direction associated with its corresponding symbol (e.g. the upward triangle with a line is “air” and faces East).

• The colors correlate with each element in some way, with watery Neptune’s side being drawn in red to represent blood, our ocean within.

In addition to the obelisk, there were two fixtures holding the black light bars that illuminated the piece, and these held their own meaning:

• Both fixtures had 100 “hands”, 100 “feet”, and 100 “eyes”, with the eye creations assisted by the multi-talented Bard of Berlin and Shaul Hamawi. [You can also click here to see a lovely drawing by Bard of Shaul at the installation.]

• These fixtures evoked the Hecatoncheires, specifically Briareus, as representing the attention (eyes) and action (hands/feet) of the people.

One interpretation of the piece, therefore, is as a reminder of the power of collective attention to illuminate the actions of those who would attempt to influence and control the world.

That said, as with any art, the most important meaning is the one you see for yourself.

Thank you for visiting, and please enjoy Speakers for the Dead: