Ark of the Nereids by Pepe Ozan

Ark of the Nereids by Pepe Ozan

Ark of the Nereids by Pepe Ozan

Ark of the Nereids by Pepe Ozan

Ark of the Nereids by Pepe Ozan

Ark of the Nereids by Pepe Ozan

photo by Scott Beale

I’ve been uploading a bunch of photos from the archives and came across photos I shot of the “Ark of the Nereids”, 35′ Spanish Galleon in the form of a mythical creature that Pepe Ozan built for his Opera at Burning Man 2002.

Built on a flatbed trailer, this 35′ giant musical instrument interweaves elements of a Spanish galleon and a mythical aquatic creature, incorporating in its design a neo-gamelan set and a large battery of alternative percussion and playable rigging. Evocative lighting will be provided by two large torches above the stern. Equipped with a concealed sound system, this vessel has been designed to host musicians over the Captain’s cabin, while offering a large space for dancers, fire performers and singers on the main deck. Four ladders up the masts and cross-cables between them make the rigging an inviting field for aerialists and adventurous participants.

Scott Beale
Scott Beale

Scott Beale is the founder of Laughing Squid and is based in New York City. When not running the blog, Scott can be found posting on Threads and sharing photos on Instagram.