Axis Mundi, Black Rock City 2026
Seven Weeks
Jessica O. Matthews aka Dragon Heart — Harlem, NY, United States
About
This piece explores the the vice and virtue of the Three Wise Monkeys re-imagined in the fabric and sculptural heritage of the Edo people of Nigeria. Three figures sit together: Hear No Evil. See No Evil. Speak No Evil. We call it wisdom, but when is it ignorance? What does it leave behind - honor or regret? Faith or grief? The layers: Grief becomes part of what we are made of. You can see what each of us is carrying or you can see through it. The blue fabric: This color harkens back to the bottle trees of West Africa and the American South, which trap evil spirits and grant safe passage to the good. The fabric was made in Nigeria. The cowrie shells: The shells represent protection and connection to the spiritual realm.
Compiled from Burning Man Project’s public art listing. Not affiliated with, endorsed, or verified by Burning Man Project.