For his first participation in Burning Man, the French-American sculptor Gabriel Sobin chose to make a strong impression with a monumental installation entitled Ad Astra – “to the stars” in Latin. Based in Provence, the artist presents in the Nevada desert a work that connects humanity’s most archaic past with futuristic visions of its future.
A sculptor for 25 years, Gabriel Sobin works mainly with stone and beeswax. Inspired by the origins of matter, poetry, and astrophysics, he defines himself as a creator of timeless forms:
“I seek to create sculptures that could have existed thousands of years ago as well as thousands of years from now,” he explains.
With Ad Astra, he imagines a circle of nine rocks, reminiscent of Stonehenge. But here, half of the blocks are made of polished stainless steel, reflecting light with a futuristic aesthetic. The other half is crafted in resin: by day, these sculptures look like ordinary stones; by night, they glow from within thanks to a play of light and sound. The experience is immersive: metallic percussion blended with NASA recordings, including Martian winds, creates a strange and hypnotic atmosphere, both primitive and cosmic.
This project would not have come to life without the drive and support of American collector Kevin Ryan, a Burning Man enthusiast who has already contributed to several installations on the Playa. “It is a collective adventure, privately funded, and carried out by a team of artisans and technicians from Provence and the United States,” notes the artist.
The installation fits perfectly into the 2025 edition’s theme, Tomorrow Today. Sobin explains: “Without knowing it at first, my project reflected this dialogue between the primitive and the futuristic. It is a space outside of time, where we find ourselves on Earth while looking at the stars.”
photo by © Art Lacoste
Nothing will be left behind. True to the Burning Man principle leave no trace, Ad Astra will be dismantled and then reinstalled in France, on Kevin Ryan’s property in the Lubéron. There, it will join other monumental sculptures, extending the link between Provence and the Nevada desert.
Sobin, who recently exhibited at the Musée de l’Homme and Princeton University, continues his exploration of origins and timelessness. His next project: an installation in Greece, inspired by prehistoric Cycladic art.
At Burning Man, his circle of luminous and sonorous rocks is intended as an invitation to contemplation and wonder. A sacred and universal space where art reconnects humanity with the essentials: the Earth, the sky, and the stars.
Thank you Gabriel!
