THE WALL (2019)

The Confluence of Transformation and Expression in 'The Wall' (2019): A Creative Exploration by Artist Tom Herck"

In the expansive arid expanse of the desert, the impermanence of existence is starkly accentuated; 'ashes to ashes, dust to dust.' In an innovative conceptualization, Tom Herck transfigures the piñata into an emblematic representation within the cultural tapestry of the Burning Man Festival. It emerges as a captivating instrument, designed not only to allure and captivate but also to stimulate and augment creative engagement, subsequently culminating in its deliberate destruction – a testament to its ephemeral nature that ensures its enduring legacy.

The thematic resonance of metamorphosis, epitomized by the 2019 Burning Man art theme, embodies the festival's pervasive ethos of transformation. Endowed with a profound potential for personal evolution, from the oft-uttered expression of "It changed my life" to the loftier proclamation of "It's changing the world," Burning Man serves as a microcosm of myriad narratives all bound by the thread of change and mutability.

Drawing inspiration from the iconic tale of the Trojan Horse, Belgian artist Tom Herck engenders a towering nine-meter piñata juxtaposed against a wooden wall spanning twelve meters in width and four meters in height. This sculptural ensemble, marked by its towering stature, serves as a dual commemoration and interrogation of the fluidity inherent in times of uncertainty. The Mexican piñata, laden with symbolic connotations of hope and unwavering faith in higher forces, finds its conceptual corollary within the Trojan Horse—an allegory of deception and concealed intentions. In a departure from tradition, this monumental piñata is intentionally devoid of contents, an expressive void mirroring the enigmatic inner workings of the innermost circles of power and public authority, alluding to a conundrum of comprehension.

A panoramic sweep of Herck's thematic exploration encompasses the notion of walls not only in reference to the physical border walls, including the Mexican border and the proposed boundary around Burning Man, but also extends to the global wave of fortification. Wrought with geopolitical implications, over seventy nations have adopted strategies of fortification, concurrently symbolic of cyber pursuits and the ubiquity of fortified enclaves.

Central to the essence of 'The Wall' is the conception of the piñata as an ephemeral entity, emblematic of luring, entrancing allure destined to culminate in obliteration. As a revered emblem in cultures across time and space, the piñata embodies a reservoir of hope and a reliance upon higher forces. Analogous to the arduous journey of immigrants underscored by unfaltering yet sometimes misplaced trust, the piñata's transient existence mirrors the delicate fabric of existence. The artistic exploration extends to the domains of expression, where the written word or artistic renderings wield the potential to subvert structures of power, echoing historical instances such as the potent influence of graffiti during the era of the Berlin Wall.

In an interactive exhibition format, visitors are enticed to inscribe slogans encapsulating their prospective beliefs and visions onto distributed T-shirts. Symbolic of the pervasive ethos of self-expression within the realm of Black Rock City, the piñata becomes a canvas adorned with these T-shirts, aggregating into an impromptu unity symbolizing the collective identity and creative essence of participants. The outcome, marked by the amalgamation of colors and compositions, remains tantalizingly uncertain, rendering an aura of spontaneity.

The climactic apex of 'The Wall' manifests during the festival's culminating "burn night," wherein the piñata, shorn of its vestments, stands stripped, emblematic of vulnerability and emancipation from biases and egocentric perspectives. Together with the wall, it succumbs to the flames, symbolizing a poignant culmination of its journey. Moreover, the T-shirts, having borne witness to this transformative process, undertake a voyage to Europe where they participate in a subsequent artistic endeavor, a testament to the enduring resonance of this narrative.

Through a perspective grounded in the ritualistic fabric of the Burning Man event, Tom Herck's oeuvre offers a profound commentary on the transformative potential of participation, giving rise to alternative moral constructs that engender communal identities within the crucible of daily life.

Embracing the vibrant milieu of the present moment, Tom Herck's artistic rendition serves as both a source of delight and a catalyst for introspection, reflective of his commitment to the dual facets of aesthetic gratification and the emancipatory potential of art as a conduit for incisive contemplation. Positioned within the remarkable backdrop of Burning Man, Herck's creative journey embodies independence from institutional confines, channeling the unadulterated spirit of self-expression and fostering a seamless synergy with the transcendent ritualism of burning traditions, thereby encapsulating the cycles of life and renewal in a symphony of artistic renaissance.

Text by Lara van Oudenaarde
Pictures by Tom Herck
Special thanx: Jan Hendrikx, Leander Kippers, Nick Van Soest, Kris Mathijs, Roel Stels, Jeremy Mouton.