Abigail Radnor 

Pictures of the week: The Mutant Vehicles Of Burning Man, by Sidney Erthal and Scott London

Motorised vehicles aren't allowed at Nevada's annual Burning Man festival, and vehicles on site have been so radically altered that they are more art than car. Sidney Erthal and Scott London joined the 68,000-strong crowd to photograph the results
  
  


Big picture: Duane Flatmo's El Pulpo Mecanico, 2012
Every August, Black Rock City rises out of the vast, desolate playa of the Black Rock desert to become one of the biggest cities in Nevada. Seven days later, it vanishes. Photograph: Scott London
Big picture: The Golden Mean, made by Jon Sarriugarte in 2011
This temporary community is known as Burning Man. Described as “Summer camp for adults” and “The cheapest trip to Mars you’ll ever take”, Burning Man had humble beginnings on a San Francisco beach. Photograph: Scott London
Big picture: C.S. Tere's The Lost Machine from 2013 was a pirate ship mutant vehicle tha
In 1986, Larry Harvey, a single dad, decided to build a wooden figure of a man to burn on the beach as a bonding exercise with his son. It became an annual tradition, attracting several hundred people until police intervened, leading to its relocation in 1991. Photograph: Scott London
Big picture: Shannon O’Hare, Neverwas Haul, 2006
Last year’s event attracted 68,000 people. Artists, or “burners”, create epic installations, some of which feature in a new book, Burning Man: Art On Fire, by Jennifer Raisner. One category for their creations is Art To Ride, or Mutant Vehicles. Photograph: Scott London
Big picture: Harrod Blank’s Oh My God!
Motorised vehicles are not allowed in Black Rock City, so those wishing to traverse the playa have to do so in a vehicle so radically altered that it is more art than car. Photograph: Scott London
Big picture: Mark whitMan, The Anglerfish, 2010. Steel, mesh, plaster
Licences are granted by the Department of Mutant Vehicles, to ensure they meet safety requirements, especially those that feature flame effects, dancefloors and bars. Photograph: Scott London
Big picture: The Rock Box by Derek Wunder, was the portable party of choice in 2008
Harrod Blank, one of the first burners to bring an art car to the festival, explains their evolution: “You have to have enough wow factor just to earn a licence. It has to be something no one’s done… or have something for passengers to be engaged with.” Photograph: Scott London
Big picture: Tom Bates and Gretchen Roosevelt's Wonder Wagon, 2008
Being immersed in the artist’s vision is key, he says. “You are providing something that is so fresh and so exhilarating, it completely alters your mind’s view of the world. That’s when it reaches the pinnacle of how great Burning Man can be. Photograph: Scott London
Big Picture: Burning Man Art Cars
Burning Man: Art On Fire is published by Race Point Publishing at £21.99. To order a copy for £16.49, including UK mainland p&p, go to theguardian.com/bookshop. Photograph: Scott London
 

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