2026 Art Listings | Burning Man
Burning Man's official 2026 Art Listings page includes an entry for "Hero Armor" credited to "Zakhar Zakharov and Team", with the hometown given as Kharkiv, Ukraine, Rotterdam, Netherlands and San Francisco, CA. The entry shows the program as "Self-Funded" and marks the project as seeking funding. This is an exhibitor's own description in a festival directory, not a news report.
The text opens with the line "They chose courage. We carry the memory." and says the art object commemorates those who left civilian life to defend the freedom of Ukraine and its people. It describes a warrior-defender originally developed by 3D artist Zakhar Zakharov and credits the underlying concept to Thomas Wievegg. The entry states that Zakhar left in 2022 to defend his homeland and did not return.
It portrays a futuristic guardian in blue and yellow, symbolizing courage, memory and resilience, standing on an illuminated octagonal base that resembles tree roots and expresses ties to family, community and homeland. Together they are described as an axis mundi, an enduring structure that carries memory and the human spirit forward. The listing page carries no publication date.
«The installation manifests a futuristic guardian in blue and yellow, symbolizing courage, memory, and resilience.»— Burning Man
«In 2022, Zakhar left to defend his homeland and did not return.»— Burning Man
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Summary by the Hero Armor team. Original publication: Burning Man.