Ma Nian Bing Wu

The Ma Nian Bing Wu (马年丙午) stands tall in the desert—a monumental steampunk guardian forged from steel, three meters high, with gears, pistons, and chimney-like vents that breathe real flame into the night sky. Ancient yet futuristic, it fuses mythic power with industrial might: layered plates, exposed mechanisms, and contained energy that pulses like a living entity. Grounded and alert, it embodies survival, transformation, and the enduring spark of creativity.

This sculpture is an offering to fellow horses—those born in the Chinese year of the Horse—who share that same spirited essence. It belongs to the desert of Burning Man, where steel meets dust, fire is sacred, and art becomes communal ritual. The Ma Nian Bing Wu will be there, exhaling fire into the vast night, a living beacon of persistence and revelation.

A gathering point for connection and wonder, the Ma Nian Bing Wu invites everyone to stand beneath its heat, feel the weight of time in steel, and share in the poetic tension between permanence and flame. It celebrates freedom, community, and the beauty of becoming whole.

This project is the vision of Victor Spinelli, a multifaceted contemporary artist—photographer, painter, sculptor, illustrator, and installation creator—based in Ibiza, Spain. Born in the USA to Italian heritage, he holds a BA in Architecture from the University of Buffalo. His path has spanned architectural studies, entrepreneurial adventures, and global travels across 85 countries, documenting cultures, religions, landscapes, and people through timeless, surreal imagery that blends mythology and social commentary.

Victor’s work has been exhibited worldwide—from Ibiza’s creative hubs to New York, Miami, London, and beyond—including retrospectives at Pikes Hotel Ibiza, features at art fairs like Art Aspen and Scope, and large-scale installations at Burning Man. His practice includes photography series, pop-art paintings inspired by vintage casino chips, ceramic sculptures, NFTs, graphic novels, and monumental steel pieces. Notable works include the iconic “Diver UP” photograph that evolved into towering sculptures at Burning Man (2019–2022), the Consciousness Series with its Wheel of Consciousness installation, and the Life is a Puzzle project presented at Burning Man 2024.

Through every element—Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood—Victor channels a lifelong passion for wonder, connection, and the shared spark of being alive.