A striking art installation by Ukrainian artist Oleksiy Sai is drawing emotional responses at this year's Burning Man festival in Nevada. Titled 'I'm Fine,' the 19-ton, 7-metre-high sculpture is constructed from real war artefacts collected from liberated territories in Ukraine. The pieces include shattered fences, satellite dishes and street signs riddled with bullet holes.
The installation is intended to highlight humanity's growing insensitivity to the devastation of war, using the common Ukrainian response to 'How are you?' as a poignant title. Created in collaboration with Vitaliy Deynega, founder of the media project Ukrainian Witness, the piece was assembled by a team of 25 people. Deynega shared on Facebook that many visitors stood in silence, touching the sharp edges, and some cried, indicating the installation's powerful impact.
Deynega explained the significance of specific elements, such as the 12 pedestrian crossing signs representing civilians killed by Russian forces for simply crossing the road or cycling. Two 'caution children' signs were also included, one from near a destroyed school in Kherson Region. In an interview with Babel, Sai noted that attendees fully understood the work, with many thanking him and sharing their support for Ukraine.
The Burning Man festival, a week-long celebration of art and self-expression in the Black Rock Desert, runs until 2 September. This year's event was marked by a tragic incident when an unnamed woman was found unresponsive on the grounds; her death is under investigation by local authorities. Organisers expressed condolences and emphasised their cooperation with the investigation.
