San Miguel de Allende - April 20, 2017 The Pirámide de Muertos, a monumental-scale community altar com-
prised of hand-crafted tin frames called “nichos,” has been awarded a grant from the Burning Man Organization

for 2017. The Pirámide has been a featured installation at the La Calaca Festival for the last three years and is the

creation of renowned Chilean Artist Tomás Bürkey. The work will be shown as a main playa installation at the

Burning Man Festival 2017, in conjunction with this year’s theme Radical Ritual.

This large-scale community altar is inspired by the Mexican Día de Muertos, and invites people to revere death in

creative and participatory ways. The Pirámide showcases thoughtfully-decorated frames, created by participants

to honor those who have passed. This opportunity for people to display their own artwork at Burning Man is rare

and unique opportunity. There will be approximately 90 featured frames, each of which will be reserved by a

donations. The donations will cover the cost of designing, transporting and mounting the overall structure from

Mexico as well as the production of artwork for each nicho.

The Pirámide will be five levels high, following ancient pyramid-building methods by Mesoamericans who are

known for their five and seven level pyramids. The structure will be approximately 30 feet long, 20 feet high, and

20 feet in depth. At night, it will include lighting and projection mapping on the surface of the work. In addition,

the enclosed space within the structure will serve as a temple—where visitors will be encouraged to leave offer-
ings to their own deceased loved ones, creating a communal space for meditation, reflection and remembrance.

Unlike many Burning Man installations, this piece will not be burned but will live on and travel throughout the

United States after the festival to encourage thoughtful ritual surrounding death, and to educate people about

enduring Mexican traditions.

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