BURNING MAN 2025
A SPACE FOR CONNECTION, TRANSFORMATION, AND RETURN
Hi, I’m Youtian — also known as Master Splinter on the
Playa.
I’m an independent artist creating sculptural furniture
and large-scale installations, rooted in softness, surrealism, and connection.
Together with my grade school friend Kai Zhang and a team of beautiful souls who believe in this vision, we’re building Our Ouroboros — an interactive inflatable sculpture for Burning Man 2025. And now, we’re inviting you to be part of it!
Why this project?
I’ve always been drawn to the quiet spaces between people —
The
moment a stranger becomes a friend.
The warmth of being seen
without judgment.
The simple, universal longing to belong.
As someone who often feels a little too soft for this world, I create
spaces that hold softness.
I believe art can be a vessel for
tenderness, healing, and play.
Our Ouroboros was born from that impulse.
What is Our Ouroboros?
It’s a climbable, touch-responsive inflatable sculpture —
A
looping snake, shaped as a trefoil knot, symbolizing endless return
and the cycles of connection.
When people touch it, glowing lights trace paths between their hands — drawing illuminated threads of shared presence. The more people connect, the more vibrant the sculpture becomes.
It’s not just a sculpture.
It’s a place to pause.
A place
to feel wonder.
A place to remember: you are not alone.
Why we need your support
Creating something on this scale — safe, durable, interactive, and
beautiful — takes more than passion.
It requires:
-
Inflatable structure materials and fabrication
-
Touch-responsive lighting system (sensors, wiring, power)
-
Transportation to the desert
-
Safety and installation gear
-
Countless hours of design, engineering, and labor
Your support will help us cover these real costs and bring this living artwork to the playa.
You Are Part of This
This project is not just ours — it’s for all of us who have ever longed for a space to simply be.
Your support says:
-
You believe in softness.
-
You believe in connection.
-
You believe in strange glowing sculptures that welcome everyone — especially those still looking for where they fit.
If you’ve ever longed for a place to be held, to feel wonder, to
connect without pressure —
Our Ouroboros is being built for you.
Thank you, truly.
With all my softness,
—Splinter
Our Team
Lead Artist and Fabricator Youtian, aka Master Splinter, is a multidisciplinary artist with degrees from Harvard and RISD. Based in Brooklyn, they are currently focusing on functional sculpture that merges material expertise with their dream-inspired artistry. In 2024, Youtian attended their first Burning Man, helping to build the 26-foot "Mona Mushroom" and supporting camp operations. | 
Lead Designer and Engineer Kai is a computational designer interested in digital fabrication and geometry optimization. He has worked on projects ranging from 3D-printed eyelashes and consumer electronics to architectural-scale inflatables. With design degrees from RISD and Harvard, Kai often gets lost in creating some bizarre yet intriguing works. | 
Ivy Wang Art Support Camp Lead Ivy, aka Plasma 🌟 Last year marked my first Burning Man adventure, where I joined Mona Camp as a graphic designer and discovered the profound creativity of the community. Inspired by the spirit of Burning Man artists, I’m committed to carrying that energy forward. With 8 years of experience in graphic design, I’m passionate about working with eco-conscious clients and incorporating recyclable materials into my creations. My career has shaped my adaptability and given me a knack for diving into unique industries, creating designs that truly resonate. Driven by a zest for life and travel, I’ve embraced challenges and growth along the way. Ready to share, connect, and explore with fellow burners! | 
Fundraising Lead Joyce, aka Cat, is a Starseed, yogi, and life artist. In the 3D world, she is an expert in business development and data management, with an educational background from Northeastern University and MIT. While working in tech, she also embraces a magical approach to life, where belief and creativity connect today with tomorrow. In 2024, Joyce attended her first Burning Man, supported camp operations. She discovered the power of connection through art, inspiring her to share this with a wider audience. | 
Sound Designers Bobi & Fliko is an electronic duo beyond genres—no boundaries, no prejudice. Just hypnotic grooves, tribal echoes, meditative waves, and moments that linger. Rooted in Eastern Asia, their sound channels Zen flow, ritual energy, raw emotion, and therapeutic soundscapes, creating a shared journey with the audience, seeking the intersection of primordial movement and machine ritual mysticism. | 
Visual Designer Goes by Rui(ru-ee), is an Italian-born Chinese illustrator and designer who studied at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). She has a deep passion for birds (especially pigeons), crochet, psychology, astrology, and random scientific fun facts. Currently working as a full-time brand designer. Previous commissioned works include projects for Bilibili, Bosch, and Tencent Games, alongside serving as the design director for Helios, a pickleball paddle start-up. Her work spans branding, illustration, and visual storytelling. |
Advisor of the Project Charles Gadeken is an industrial artist who has been working in the Bay Area for over 25 years. His monumental interactive public artworks reimagine the world “post-nature” and include commissions from Burning Man, Insomniac Events, Coachella, Absolut Vodka, and the cities of Palo Alto, San Francisco, and Reno. Charles is the advisor for the Ouroboros project, helping us bring the art to the playa in all aspects, including fundraising, art building, and camp setup. |
Perks
A pocket-sized portal to connection—stick the spirit of Ouroboros wherever you go.
If you order this perk, it will be shipped after we return from the dust in October, 2025.
Graphic designed by our beloved team member, Rui Ruihong Jiang.
Comfy Tee with Ouroboros design on the front and back.
If you order this perk, it will be shipped after we return from the dust in October, 2025.
Graphic designed by our beloved team member, Rui Ruihong Jiang
Carry the loop of connection—support Ouroboros and hold it close.
If you order this perk, it will be shipped after we return from the dust in October, 2025.
Graphic designed by our beloved team member, Rui Ruihong Jiang.
Comfy Hoodie with Ouroboros design on the front and back.
If you order this perk, it will be shipped after we return from the dust in October, 2025.
Graphic designed by our beloved team member, Rui Ruihong Jiang
Highlights
See all activity23Activity
A pocket-sized portal to connection—stick the spirit of Ouroboros wherever you go.
If you order this perk, it will be shipped after we return from the dust in October, 2025.
Graphic designed by our beloved team member, Rui Ruihong Jiang.
Comfy Tee with Ouroboros design on the front and back.
If you order this perk, it will be shipped after we return from the dust in October, 2025.
Graphic designed by our beloved team member, Rui Ruihong Jiang
Carry the loop of connection—support Ouroboros and hold it close.
If you order this perk, it will be shipped after we return from the dust in October, 2025.
Graphic designed by our beloved team member, Rui Ruihong Jiang.
Comfy Hoodie with Ouroboros design on the front and back.
If you order this perk, it will be shipped after we return from the dust in October, 2025.
Graphic designed by our beloved team member, Rui Ruihong Jiang
