Ukraine’s “I’m Fine” installation at Burning Man festival

This year, Ukraine showcased the “I’m Fine” installation at the iconic American festival Burning Man. The exhibit is a massive, colorful sculpture made out of letter symbols composed of various items damaged by Russian missiles, shells, and bullets.

The installation weighs in at 19 tons and stands 7 meters high. The sculpture was assembled from real war artifacts collected from liberated territories. Among the objects are bullet-riddled street signs, solar panels, satellite dishes, shattered city name signs, and broken fences. The concept plays on the Ukrainian response to the question “How are you?”

The project is the creation of Ukrainian artist Oleksiy Sai and Vitaliy Deynega, founder of the media project Ukrainian Witness. A team of 25 people were involved in its development. Among the damaged artifacts there are “pedestrian crossing” signs, Deynega shared. “There are only twelve of them. This represents people killed by Russians at the beginning of the war simply for crossing the road or riding a bicycle on errands. There are two ‘caution children’ signs. One was removed near a completely destroyed school in Kherson Region by the Russians.”

“People fully understand the work, and when I explain it, they understand even better. Many people approached, thanked, and shared what they have done and are doing for Ukraine. The audience here mostly perceives this war as their own,” artist Oleksiy Sai said in an interview with Babel.

“People stand and look. Sometimes for a very long time. The braver ones touch the sharp edges. Many cry. It seems our idea worked and will be heard by tens of thousands of people here. Our absolutely inadequate life situation has become normal for us; we have learned to be strong and celebrate life even under these circumstances. We react less and less to rockets and death, sorrow and the tremendous effort required just to avoid losing our minds from the fears of war and the guilt of not doing enough,” Deynega wrote.

Visitors are able to come and experience Burning Man until September 2. The arts festival is an independent, annual event held in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, which has been going for over 35 years. Various art installations are set up on the grounds and, at the festival’s conclusion, a giant wooden human figure is burned. Every year the event attracts around 80,000 people from around the world.