I’ve never been to famed music festival Burning Man, although I’ve often come across various installations that are showcased at the popular event in the Black Rock Desert. This year, Big Rig Jig instantly grabbed our attention. This sculpture utilizes two decommissioned tanker trucks, which is meant to reference the global oil industry at the nexus of our world’s political, social, and environmental systems. By repurposing these symbolically rich objects, Mike Ross conveys his admiration for and anxiety over humanity’s powerlessness and control over energy. Ross states: “our source objects are fundamental to the world’s oil distribution infrastructure, and are pertinent examples of our culture’s unmatched production of carbon dioxide. By altering these symbolically rich objects, the sculpture is a celebration of humankind’s raw power on earth, a visual metaphor for non-sustainability, and a contemplation of our unique ability to recognize and change our most destructive actions.” Big Rig Jig is a fantastic concept, and it’s awesomeness is elevated once e-readers realize that this is not a Photoshop rendering.
