This is our art project Beast Mode, which is an experiential art installation that we will be setting up on the playa at Burning Man. Our intention behind it is to awaken compassion.

This year, we have created something deeply personal.

To us, this beast represents humanity itself — strong, and powerful, yet fragile, vulnerable, and still searching for balance.

Every part of this piece carries intention. We used various organic pieces, such as crocodile leather, set with crystals, stones, and geodes - each symbolizing the layers of strength and fragility within us.

The experience will be alive with music and voice — not just to be heard, but to be felt. We have created a soundscape carrying a narrative of humanity: grief and hope, division and connection, a reminder that compassion is still possible.

The Beast is surrounded by lamp posts, forming a circle of light. We wanted to create a space for reflection, for compassion, and for remembering what it means to be human.

We built it to be more than an object. We built it as a reminder that in times of war, fear, and division, we must return to compassion, to connection, to seeing ourselves as one family.

For us, Burning Man is not about building objects. It’s about creating experiences that change us. Our hope is that this Beast will carry its message of compassion far beyond the desert.

Burning Man only funds 40 to 60 percent of projects like this. The rest is carried by artists and communities who believe in the power of art to change us.

We are asking for your support — not just to fund a project, but to bring this experience to those who need to feel it.

By donating, sharing this campaign, and, for those who feel called, through acquiring the piece itself, help give it a future — and ensure its light continues to inspire long after the playa.

Together, we can make this vision real and carry its message far beyond the playa.

If you donate, you will receive a necklace with a small component of the beast, for you to wear as a memento.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to us on IG @dustandbeau

Thank You