Israel’s Burning Man – Interview

Debi Oulu, Artist, Shit Hole Camp

How did you become part of the Midburn community?
Well, I am an artist. I got into the whole Midburn scene because of all the interesting art that was coming out of Burning Man. I kept seeing pictures on the internet and I knew I wanted to create that kind of art. In 2014 before the first Midburn gathering they called for artists and I signed up right away.

Did you attend Burning Man in the States prior to Midburn?
No, I have never been to Burning Man itself. I love being an active part of the community here in Israel. I am here all year round I can really invest and be a part of it… whereas if I went there I would only be able to come help out a couple days or weeks before the event. I believe that the more you put into it, the more you get out of it.

So let’s start from the beginning: where do you draw your inspiration?
I am always trying to push the limits a little on what is taboo and what isn’t. I want my art to make people question their values or look at something in a new light.

Tell us about the art pieces you’ve worked on in the past
I started off small with the giving tree in 2014. It was a big, pink tree and before the event I brought and collected gifts to hand on its branches. The idea was that people would come and either take from the tree or give back to the tree – whatever they wanted.

What kind of interactions came out of that piece?
The stories were really amazing, people said told me that they had needed a cup and they got there and there was a cup… or toilet paper or sunglasses. Just what you need, the playa provides. There was one story that I really loved. The first year there were police monitoring the event, and a friend of mine invited a policewoman who was walking by – he said, “hey take something from the tree.” So she took a little something. The next day she came back with something she brought from her house to hang on the tree. She became part of this whole gifting concept, even though she was being paid to guard – I thought that was one of the good stories.

What about last year, what project were you a part of?
I did the graveyard last year. It was comprised of 70 different graves of different people… we had workshops where we had the headstones already cut out and they could decorate and paint them however they wanted. There were also mass graves. It was a quiet areas where people could get away or sit with friends – a little spot for peace, quiet and reflection.

When you create art pieces like that, what kind of emotion or experience are you trying to convey?
With the graveyard the idea was: death is just as much a part of us as life – let’s face it and accept it. Let’s not try to run away from our fears, let’s face them head on. For me, creating this graveyard was really a way to open up a discussion about that.

Did you have any special stories with that one?
Oh yeah a bunch. Especially the last night, it was time to burn down the artwork and none of my team was there. It was 1 or 2 in the morning, so I just decided to do it myself. Then all these people came from the playa, as they do. We ended up having an amazing discussion that lasted all all night, they asked about how this topic spoke to me and we talked about what death means to us.
When the sun started coming up we realized we needed to start burning this place to the ground. We went into this craziness and were pulling up headstones and tossing them in this mass grave. It was an incredible experience, something I will never forget. It was a night of total empowerment and sharing and realizing that the playa does provide… even the right people when you need them.

Can you give us a taste of what you have in store for us this year?
I have two projects I am working on. In 2015 I built a climbing wall with different body parts instead of climbing stones, the idea was: “what are you willing to do to get to the top.” This year we are taking that one step further with sensors so that each piece the climber touches will light up and make sounds.
I also have a second, secret project. I want it to spread organically through word-of-mouth, so I can only give you a hint. We are trying to create a new fashion trend for the lovely ladies of the playa… It is a special accessory that will reflect some elements of each woman’s inner-self. It has something to do with female empowerment… that is all I can say! If anyone wants to hear more, they are welcome to contact me on Facebook!

So you’ve told us about your own creations, what other pieces on the playa have inspired you?
Wow, where do I even begin? I am always in awe of the big art that comes out and how large and complex it is, but I personally love much more the small pieces. There was a piece last year where it was a couch and a telephone which was hooked up to a telephone with a couch on the other side of the playa. You pick up the phone and talk to whoever is on the other side… you have no idea who they are, where they are and how you are even talking to this person. It was just so amazingly simple and wonderful.

What do you love most about creating art for Midburn?
There is really just so much freedom at the burn to let your crazy out. As an artist that is so rare, you have no idea how often I get censored.

And how do you feel the impermanence of Midburn art affects your ability to create?
I love the aspect of impermanence at Midburn. The art is meant to be enjoyed and experienced in a certain context, and then “burnt to the ground.” As an artist this gives me freedom to be very extreme, knowing that it will not be taken out of context. For example is the Graveyard I built last year: it was meant to be burnt down. Once we make a strong statement about death and our connection to it, it MUST be burnt at the end of the burn. For me, burning the graveyard was just as important as building it, in regards to the meaning of the installation piece.

The theme this year is Lucid Dreaming, did that inspire your work at all?
I will be honest I did really take it as my inspiration for my artwork this year. I love the concept of lucid dreaming; I think it really allows us to be free. I think if there is one thing I would really like for the Midburn is to be free – to be a place that allows you to be.
I really this place where we allow each person to be, whatever that means for each individual… allow ourselves to bring out our dreams in a place that is accepting, comforting and allows.

What tip would you give a virgin burner?
First of all, try and get involved as much as you can in whatever way you can. And then once you are there on the playa for the first time: just be a sponge and soak up the whole experience and process it afterwards. Don’t try to process it while you are there – you can’t! – just enjoy the craziness that is happening around you.