[imagesource: Scott London]

On August 28, thousands of revellers (some estimate 80 000) will descend on the Black Rock Desert in Nevada for Burning Man 2022.

They’ll return home by September 5 and annoy the hell out of everyone they speak to regarding their “life-changing” and “transformative” experience.

Days later, all will be back to normal.

I joke because Burning Man and our own AfrikaBurn are a very good time, with the scale of the former hard to fathom.

This year’s theme is ‘Waking Dreams’, billed as “a chance to explore the transformative power of dreams, both literal and figurative”.

Vehicles are banned in Black Rock City so those who wish to bring along a Mutant Vehicle (defined as “a unique, motorised creation that either shows little or no resemblance to their original form or to any standard street vehicle or is out of context from its normal setting”) must register with Burning Man’s Department of Mutant Vehicles.

Organisers say they have received 829 applications for Mutant Vehicles, far more than in any other year, and great things are expected.

Forbes spoke with numerous vehicle designers and photographers about what to expect.

Photographer Scott London:

 “After sitting out for a couple of years because of the pandemic, there’s a lot of pent-up creative energy in the Burning Man community. Many of us are itchy and impatient to return to the desert. This is reflected in a large number of new art projects in the works, including many mutant vehicles that will debut at Burning Man 2022.”

“One art car project I’m especially excited about is the Y Knot Saloon created by Sean Orlando and his team at Engineered Artworks. It’s a saloon on wheels meant to evoke the 19th-century wild west.”

Photographer Alexandra Lier has published multiple books on the subject, including The World’s Fastest Place and Mutant Vehicles.

She says this year will be “special”:

“It hasn’t taken place for two years now, and all the artists and mutant vehicle builders are full of energy and want to bring their new or old works. I am really looking forward to it. For me, Burning Man is the biggest outdoor art festival in the world, and I celebrate that. I think the atmosphere will be special after such a long time. I’m also looking forward to seeing my friends again.”

Multiple designers and artists echoed that sentiment and promised big things are coming to the playa.

Along with all of the new designs, some old familiar Mutant Vehicles are likely to make an appearance.

Let’s run through some of those classics from years gone by.

Designer Duane Flatmo, who is famous for his El Pulpo Mecanico octopus vehicle design, says he plans to unveil a massive new surprise this year that is “sure to thrill everyone”.

Good luck to anybody venturing over to the US to attend. Let your freak flag fly

[source:forbes]