Thermokraken

The ThermoKraken is a 23-foot-tall fire sculpture born from myth and transformed by desert heat. Once a creature of the sea, it now stands in blazing defiance on an alkaline plain, exalting its fiery rebirth. With hallucinogenic flames and a staccato rhythm of combustion, it spits fire in all directions, its three luminous crystal pods pulsing with radiant energy and building toward explosive, skyward bursts that echo ancient rage and liberation.

Created by East Bay collective THERM, of which I was a member at that time, the ThermoKraken debuted at Burning Man in 2002, fusing advanced engineering with performance art. Propane, ethanol, and metal salts fuel its elaborate flame effects, which include infrared radiation, multicolored fire, and thunderous subsonic booms. Four separate fire units require coordinated operation, and its steel skeleton, turbines, and pressurized fuel systems allow the Thermokraken to erupt with breathtaking intensity and control.

More than a spectacle, the ThermoKraken is a living sculpture — part machine, part myth, and entirely alive when activated. Built with passion and precision, it becomes a totemic expression of vitality, struggle, and transformation. Whether solo or accompanied by live musicians, it doesn’t just burn — it breathes, sings, and roars, offering a visceral, unforgettable encounter with the elemental force of fire as art.