The Buddha Bunny, inspired by the Burning Man 2009 theme “Evolution”, focuses on personal or spiritual evolution. Similar to the interactive and contemplative experience of our last work, Arbor Animus, this artwork would inspire further dialogue with the participants of Burning Man about the nature of a personal evolution.

The Buddha Bunny a 20 foot tall meditating rabbit, sitting in full-lotus position.  Running up his body were light sources corresponding to the chakras of the body.  As the week evolves our rabbit spiritually evolved, and a new chakra light up each night of the week, until the final chakra was lit at which point The Buddha Bunny became “enlightened”.  This “enlightenment” set off a whole series of new lighting effects woven throughout The Buddha Bunny: the eyes light up and changed color, as well as his nose, teeth, whiskers, and more.  The best part was all lighting effects could be controlled by the participants of the festival.

The Buddha Bunny’s lap was made out of futons making it incredibly comfortable to lounge on, find shade, or watch the sunset over Black Rock City.  His skin was made out of different fabrics sewn together like a quilt, reminiscent of an old doll.  Each section of fabric represented an individual contribution to the project, along with a quotation by the donor about spiritual or personal evolution.

Lastly, you were able to climb into The Buddha Bunny through his tail.  Inside was a room where the floor, ceiling, and walls were made entirely out of plexiglass mirrors.  Everywhere was a fractal like reflection of a reflection of a reflection of a reflection.  A person saw themselves multiplied imperfectly throughout the room, mimicking DNA (the engine of evolution) which takes one code and multipies it imperfectly through time.  This room was a place to literally and figuratively “reflect”.