Inikadowa: Building Light at Burning Man
Physical Art Installation — Collaborator & Hands-On Build
Burning Man 2025
Some projects aren't about leading. They're about showing up: patience, steady hands, and the will to carry someone else's own vision into light.
Challenge
Bringing Inikadowa — a large-scale interactive light sculpture rooted in Filipino myth and the craft tradition of the parol, the star lantern that has marked Filipino homes and gatherings for generations — from concept to a fully realized installation at Burning Man 2025, under real structural and environmental desert constraints, as part of a small, collaborative team.
Impact
For me, this project was never really about the technical build — it's about what it carries. Inikadowa draws on the imagery and spirit of Filipino myth and the quiet artistry of the parol, brought into physical form and light. Burning Man became a stage large enough to carry that heritage to a global community — an invitation for people who may never have encountered Filipino folklore to sit with its light for a moment. Playing even a supporting role in bringing that story into the desert is something I carry with real pride.
Roles
My role & contribution: Installation | Visual Design
Team contributors: 3D renders | Volunteers | Trainers