Andromeda Reimagined was a sanctuary in the Deep Playa, a homage to heroic women, while providing respite to fellow Burning Man participants in the Nevada desert.
Keeping with the theme of “Metamorphosis,” the design is a reimagining of the Andromeda myth, evolving the story from a classic male hero narrative to a story of female empowerment. The structure challenges the Greek tale of Andromeda, who was saved by Perseus from a death sentence before attaining celestial immortality as a constellation. In the reimagining, Andromeda—as a strong, independent woman—saves herself with the help of a supportive community.
Intended to provide introspection, the five-sided pyramid structure boasts ornate CNC-cut patterned walls meant to evoke the starry heavens. Exterior fins line the pyramid’s vertices, mimicking the swirling trajectories of the cosmos. When illuminated from within, the installation projects its whimsical light onto the nighttime desert floor. The structure beckons attendees to its plush interior, which pays homage to Andromeda with four oval paintings depicting the reimagined narrative, and a fifth hanging panel displaying the structure’s thematic poem, “How Brightly.” An eight-foot-high concrete sculpture called “Freedom and Awaken” anchors the center. Markers hang from the walls, prompting visitors to proclaim their own female heroes along the walls.
The structure itself relates to the infinite potential of the stars in the sky—specifically the Andromeda constellation, but not in any literal way. The white star-shaped cutouts and the dramatic swirls represent the arc of planets and stars as they move across the sky.
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