Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on June 10, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
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Ukrainian artist Oleksiy Say's 'Black Cloud' installation symbolizes the war in Ukraine and will be showcased at Burning Man to evoke global awareness.
By Anna Voitenko
KYIV (Reuters) -A massive black cloud has stood in Kyiv's historic Sophia Square this week, emitting flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder in evocation of war, before it travels to the Burning Man art festival in the United States later this year.
The "Black Cloud" installation, by Ukrainian artist Oleksiy Say, measures 30 metres (100 feet) long and 15 high, weighs nearly eight tonnes and is made from four kilometres of fabric.
The work also includes the sounds of artillery fire, explosions, drones and military vehicles in a chilling evocation of Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine since February 2022.
"Get ready. Evil is just around the corner. It makes sense to face it," Say told Reuters, standing beside his work, in a message to others beyond Ukraine.
The 50-year-old, who studied at the Kyiv Art and Industrial Technical School, lives and works in the capital of Ukraine where there has been a surge of "war art" during the conflict.
Say's installation will be a Ukrainian contribution to the annual, eight-day independent art festival in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada in August.
"Perhaps the next time someone watches news about Ukraine they will register not only the information but also experience an emotion that goes with it. That's how it (the Black Cloud) is intended to work," said Maria Moroz, executive producer of the project.
For Kyiv residents, the Black Cloud is a stark symbol.
On a recent day, some took photos while others stood quietly, one couple hugging in silence under its shadow.
"Had it been somewhere up in the sky, I would have associated it with a cloud, but as it is, it evoked images of explosions and destruction in me," said Natalia, 58, from Kyiv.
"I was walking to work when I saw this installation. It made me think of something evil. It reminded me of the war," said Tetiana, 54. "Constant air raid alerts, missiles, ... drones, this is what it makes me think of."
(Reporting by Anna Voitenko; Writing by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
The 'Black Cloud' is a massive art installation by Ukrainian artist Oleksiy Say, measuring 30 meters long and 15 meters high, designed to evoke the experience of war.
The installation includes sounds of artillery fire, explosions, drones, and military vehicles, reflecting the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Say aims to evoke emotions related to the war, encouraging viewers to confront the reality of evil and its implications.
Residents have expressed a range of emotions, with some taking photos and others reflecting on their experiences of the war, associating the installation with destruction and fear.
After its display in Kyiv, the 'Black Cloud' will be featured at the Burning Man festival in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada.
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