The Hedgehog Temple by the Kurenivka collective @ Burning Man 2023 – Photo by the Kurenivka collective.
Art, Architecture – Who doesn’t love hedgehogs? Lovely, peaceful creatures. But in war-torn Ukraine, the word hedgehog is often associated with a tank-proof structure made from welded metal beams. From here, at Burning Man 2023, Yaroslav Korets and Ella Vasilevskaya, founders of the Kurenivka creative collective, have built The Hedgehog Temple, a shrine made of anti-tank obstacles arranged to form the shape of the beloved creature that contemplates the sacrifices made by Ukrainians as well of the significance of community, support, and dedication.
- RELATED STORIES: Read more on Burning Man on Archipanic.
From afar, the temple’s spiked silhouette also evokes a looming thundercloud, which often carries a foreboding threat. Below the structure, visitors can uncover stories of war victims and pay tribute to the thousands of courageous and talented individuals the Ukrainian creative community lost due to the war.
“The Temple honours the Ukrainian creative community who lost their lives during the war, symbolising protection, unity, and the resilience of the human spirit.” Yaroslav Korets and Ella Vasilevskaya told Archipanic.
The Burning Man’s installation has also raised money to buy evacuation vehicles and save lives. “We wanted to create a vital link between besieged Ukrainian citizens and their international supporters.”
For The Hedgehog Temple, the Kurenivka collective partnered with the Leleka Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded by US-based Ukrainians with the mission to procure and distribute medical and first-aid supplies to paramedics, emergency crews, and hospitals in the wake of the 2014 Russian aggression in the Eastern Ukraine and Crimea.
Kurenivka is a Ukrainian creative collective sparked by Yaroslav Korets and Ella Vasilevskaya. Their Kurenivka camp at Burning Man 2023 bloomed with Ukrainian culture in the heart of the Black Rock Desert.
- RELATED STORIES: Read more about Ukrainian design and architecture on Archipanic.
All photos of The Hedgehog Temple are courtesy of the Kurenivka collective.
