Lingram - 1993 DSW

The original Lingram, at Desert Siteworks, June 1993

Lingam (1993)

The first Burning Man Lingram (photo by Stewart Harvey)

Lingram (1994)

City of Dis, 1996

(photo by Carlos Hunt)

“Daughters of Ishtar” (1997)

Photo by Holly Kreuter

The Dreamer (2005)

The Dreamer

Steve Mobia, Pepe Ozan, Basserman, Fortismo

“Le Nystere de Papa Loko” opera (1999)

Photo by Tom Pendergast)

Pepe Ozan was an Argentine born sculptor, artistic director and filmmaker. He was one of the first artists to bring large scale art projects to Burning Man

Ozan directed several large-scale ritual performance art pieces between 1996 and 2002. Starting in 1994 he created a series of operas which grew to encompass 200 participants and 30 musicians. He created The Arrival of Empress Zoe (1996), The Daughters of Ishtar (1997), The Temple of Rudra (1998), Le Mystere de Papa Loko, a ritual performance based on Haitian Voodoo (1999). The Thar-Taurs of Atlan (2000) and The Ark of the Nereids (2002)

In addition to founding the Burning Man Opera, Pepe designed and constructed his sculptures, which served as the stage for the performances. At the climax of each performance, the stage was dramatically set on fire and burned to the ground.

Much of his work has been lovingly collected online here. John Law’s tribute to Pepe can be read here.

It is the year ll58 AD, Constaninople. When a treacherous Cardinal reveals that the Empress Zoe is a hermaphrodite, she is condemned to be drowned in the Bosporous. The High Priest of Hell incites the jealousy of the Graces, who assist him in the Infinite Recreation of Fire.

This is a special narrated version of the video from the 1997 Burning Man Opera, The Daughters of Ishtar by Paradox Pollock who was the choreographer and was instrumental in developing the libretto/narrative. He explains Pepe's desire to produce a beautiful spectacular opera that celebrated the feminine mystic.

Sailing from the Man to the Temple of Whollyness, Pepe Ozan's Ark, built for the 2002 Burning Man Opera and reborn as the Narwhal, leads singers, musically networked art cars, acro-stilters, giant masks and other performers in a celebration inspired by the Operas of old and ancient Egyptian rites.

2000 Burning Man Opera "The Thar-Taurs of Atlan" by Pepe Ozan