
At Burning Man 2025, the Dragon entered one of the most hostile environments on earth — and stayed standing for two weeks. Sandstorms. Heavy rain. Extreme heat. Through all of it, the Dragon operated without interruption until the final moment.


At Burning Man, spontaneity is an essential part of the festival’s flow, rooted in natural expression and collective connection. In this context, the system was fully designed for extreme improvisation and real-time musical interpretation, both through audio-reactive behavior and through performative interfaces where human input remains indispensable.

The software was designed with direct integration to the other elements of the installation — specifically DMX-controlled LED tube systems that functioned as the tree's branches. The overall system was driven by an audio-reactive architecture, creating a continuous link to the live improvisation of the DJs present throughout the event. The framework supported real-time responsiveness without preloaded content structures, enabling full improvisational operation across two weeks of continuous use.
Behind the scenes at Burning Man, the experience was defined above all by the extreme climate conditions to which everyone was exposed, making it one of the most challenging editions in the festival’s history. The constant tension between discomfort and difficulty—facing unpredictable and severe natural elements—and the collective effort to endure them created a powerful contrast. Ultimately, this struggle gave way to a shared sense of triumph and joy, where music and visual art became unifying forces, allowing participants to celebrate resilience and victory together in a truly unique environment.
To withstand the extreme outdoor conditions, a custom protective enclosure was engineered specifically for the Dragon. This solution was developed in collaboration with Sila Sveta, who worked directly on the structural and weatherproofing solutions required. The strands became saturated with water and sand, shifting from black to desert tones — and continued to perform without interruption.
The value of the Burning Man project was defined by endurance. Set in an extremely inhospitable desert environment, the installation faced exceptionally harsh and almost mythical weather conditions, including severe sandstorms and heavy rain. Under these circumstances, the Dragon was tested primarily on its resistance. This challenge was met flawlessly: despite the strands becoming completely saturated with water and sand—transforming their original black color into desert tones—the installation not only survived, but continued to perform its role impeccably until the very end.