The Burning Man festival made the decision to remove a large pro-Palestine sculpture titled “From the River to the Sea” from its list of art installations that were set to be on display at the event. This decision came after more than 1,000 people signed an online petition demanding the removal of the 8-foot-by-14-foot fiberglass watermelon sculpture, claiming that the phrase “From the River to the Sea” promotes violence against Jewish people and denies the Jewish state’s right to exist.
The phrase “From the River to the Sea” has become popular among anti-Israel protesters since the war began on October 7th with Hamas’ attack on Israel. The petitioners argued that hate and antisemitism have no place at a festival like Burning Man, which promotes freedom and acceptance. The original listing claimed that the watermelon sculpture, which shares colors with the Palestinian flag, was created by “Decolonize Now” and comes directly from Gaza.
Despite the original listing on the Burning Man website, a spokesperson for the festival stated that the sculpture is likely not headed to the Nevada festival in August. The statement suggested that the listing was submitted in order to stir an emotional response within the Burning Man community rather than as an actual art piece intended for the event. The organizers did not immediately respond to inquiries from the media regarding the decision to remove the sculpture.
After the pro-Palestine sculpture was removed from the list of art installations at Burning Man, supporters of Palestine flooded the festival’s social media channels. Some commenters expressed disappointment that artists and their work were being censored, while others accused Burning Man of “bowing down” to Zionists. Burning Man is described as a global ecosystem of artists, makers, and community organizers who co-create art and events while promoting radical self-expression and inclusion.
The Burning Man festival, set to begin on August 25, faced backlash after the inclusion of the pro-Palestine sculpture on its list of art installations. The decision to remove the sculpture came after concerns were raised about the phrase “From the River to the Sea” and its association with promoting violence and denying the Jewish state’s right to exist. Despite the controversy, Burning Man continues to be a place for artists, makers, and community organizers to come together to create art, events, and initiatives around the world.
