[Ed note: This is an archive of a long defunct website. The artist, Hendrik Hackl remains active today.]

A review by the artist, November 1997

The Ammonite Project is a nomadic tent structure in the shape of an ammonite out of the cretaceous period. Constructed and manufactured by machines with materials of our time, a prehistoric life form is transformed into the information age.

Pitched in the open air, the sculpture is 21 meters across at its entrance, which is 3 meters high and 6 meters wide, allowing people to enter the ammonite and walk through...

The observer, driven by curiosity, is forced to become smaller as he approaches the interior.... A trip, back to mom's womb?

Upon the return journey he experiences the development from primeval creature into an upright Homo sapiens, and indeed into himself.

For my temporary and symbolic “give-back” to nature, in May 1996, I chose the Moroccan Sahara as the premier location. This place is very well known for its mineral and fossil finds.

But also in the area of Hualapai Playa, geologists discovered petrified testimonies of Nautiluses, having lived some hundred million years ago. It's just another desert...

Meeting the man...

During a PR-event at the Tucson Mineral And Fossil Show in February 1997, I met David Lawler from the Far West Geoscience Foundation. He participated at the Burning Man several times and offered to organize a common geoart theme camp at the festival. With the help of the web I learned more about the event, got more curious and finally decided to participate.

How to do it ?

Regarding my permanently bad financial situation, I was not absolutely sure in dreams becoming reality, but suddenly, it was my birthday on August 13th, and a few positive things came together :

My Dad's birthday donation. (Thanks, Dad)

David gave the OK for free transportation of the sculpture from San Francisco Airport to Black Rock City, free storage, food, drinks and help. (Thank you, David)

I sold a $6.000,00 artsculpture, which paid the shipping bills. (Thank you, Mary)

My sister lent me the money for the plane ticket! No really, she didn't just want me out of town. (Thank you, Biggi, you will get it back one day...)

And last, but definitely not least, Larry Harvey donated $2,000 to help support my participation. (Thank you, Larry)

So, the bills for a $10.000 adventure seemed to be paid - why not go?

...in Nevada

After building a big crate for my artsculpture, packing, doing the German customs and shipping papers, sending it all to the US, I bought a ticket, took my last $700 and a plane to San Francisco. I had a rendezvous there, with my baby, dressed in wood.

August 22nd, 3,500 pounds, 17 x 8 feet, just arrived in San Francisco. Few problems... but on its way to Black Rock City, where a lot of volunteers lent hands to help unload the crate. (Thank you, thank you heat-resistant volunteers!)

I then got left in the desert! No ride back! It all worked out later though.

At Wednesday, 2 p.m. the numbered ribs of the skeleton were ready for the setup. Never having been in the Nevada desert before, I was immediately impressed by the overwhelming landscape.

I hereby like to thank all people who were involved in the setup of the ammonite sculpture. You were not just volunteers, you turned this erection into a pleasure.

In the evening when the skeleton of the ammonite tent structure was almost finished, there was plenty of time for a little birthday party in the blue light district.

What a wonderful atmosphere in that camp! Thanks for the Absinthe, it made my first night at burning man. I also had some reasons to party:

The participation of the ammonite project at the Burning Man ‘97 seemed to be real!

We were too tired to set up our sleeping tent, so David and I spent the rest of the night lying on our backs and watching the show in the night sky over Nevada...

Thursday morning we started early, and with the help of our crew the ammonite tent with its white canvas was ready for the visitors' walking-in-experience...

I was a little sad because of the aesthetic performance of the sculpture. Only the pilot of the police helicopter and a few press people had a chance for a see from above.

But I got happier when I saw that the art sculpture was accepted more as a tent of adventure and experience

Thanks to everybody visiting our Geoart theme camp. It was a great pleasure for me, watching you and listening to your personal experience. Thanks for sharing your feelings and emotions.

Thanks to those who did not leave their trash inside the sculpture, and to those who took out the trash of the others.

Thanks to all of you for treating the sculpture so respectfully.

Most of the day David and I spent beside the Artsculpture explaining, or guiding our visitors through it. Unfortunately, there was not time enough left to visit more of these incredible Artscupltures, performances and installations. Well there is always next year.

Thanks to the Motel 666 and the Bavarian Illuminate Motorcycle Cabal for shade when the heat was hot, support and hands.

On Friday and Saturday night the tent was illuminated by the 30 gas lamps I already used for the premiere installation in the Sahara. But this was nothing compared to what happened in Black Rock City...

Within two hours there was approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people attracted to the glowing sculpture. Like insects, then sucked into the wide entrance, sooner or later they crawled through.

By screaming or hysteric laughter, everyone got over their claustrophobic panic and only a very few had problems going all the way, as far as it was... possible.

I was really overwhelmed, what an experience for me!

In the nighttime when the sculpture was not illuminated, when just the white canvas reflected the light of Black Rock City, people still found the tent, mainly by accident.

I spent hours on the playa meeting tripping strollers, who finally crawled back to their mom's womb...

All these fires on Sunday night! I was really happy to see that nobody set my crate on fire.

Honestly, I was not prepared. Nothing to burn with me, perhaps my passport...? Hmmm

Thanks to Allen and Mike for transporting and storing the crate after the festival.

Long live the man !

Long live the United States of Ammonites !

The Ammonite Project | Burning Man 1997