MOTANKA

War destroys but art preserves.

The Motanka serves as a talisman to protect and heal.

Inspired by the ancient Ukrainian rag doll, the "Motanka Doll" was passed down from mother to daughter for good health and fortune. It is a place to gather strength from our ancestors. The Motanka is all about exuding positive energy, similar to the Burning Man spirit, so the reflective mirror-like surface multiplies the positive energy. An energetic transfer, which I witnessed last year on my first burn. The hope is for the sculpture to pull from the energy of the past and communicate a transcendence of time and space into the universal energetic pull of a positive life force. Conveying a sense of transcendence, it can encourage visitors to step outside the confines of their daily lives and connect with something greater. The idea of tapping into this collective energetic pull can evoke feelings of unity, creating a shared experience that resonates deeply and affects our actions tomorrow.

See last year’s Motanka installation with Misto Camp at Burning Man 2024 in the video below:

Ola Rondiak Art is seeking grants and institutional funding for the implementation of the Motanka project at Burning Man 2025. Interested parties should contact Ola Rondiak via email at ola@rondiak.com