An Exclusive First Look At The Other-Worldly Art Of Burning Man 2014

One of the very best things about Burning Man, the week-long, post-apocalyptic celebration of creative expression that pops up in the Nevada desert each August, is the awe-inspiring collection of art on display.

The installations and the art cars roaming through the two-mile stretch of temporary city render humanitys capacity for imagination limitless. Where else in the universe would a giant, fire-breathing steampunk octopus glide past a 55-foot tall, LED-powered homage to the female form ?

The Huffington Post was lucky enough to preview a handful of the projects that will be on hand at this years event, which kicks off in mere weeks and is built around the theme caravansary . As artists scramble to put the finishing touches on their brainchildren and raise the final funds to bring their weirdest dreams to life, weve rounded up what will undoubtedly be some of the most influential works of Burning Man 2014.

From a giant, glowing vagina to a collection of mechanical lotus flowers that light up to the rhythm of your heartbeat, take a look at some of the bizarre creations that will grace the world's dustiest canvas this year (Grover Norquist not included ):

Embrace

Though enormous in scale, the piece is simple -- a 72-foot sculpture of two figures embracing . But creator Matt Schultz hopes his work will convey a deeper message to onlookers, one that was inspired by the loss he felt when his stepfather passed away two years ago. Embrace is a reminder to take the time out of your busy life to spend time with those that you love, he told HuffPost. We hope that people will think of all of the relationships in their lives, past present and future, and consider what has made them so important.

The Super Pool

The Super Pool is a bigger and more badass version of the legendary Burning Man installation The Pool. For this new and improved iteration, sculptor Jen Lewin has created a 5,000 square foot immersive LED playground where participants can interact with circular pads of light through their own unique movements. Imagine a giant canvas where you can paint and splash light collaboratively, Lewin told HuffPost in a statement.

Minaret

Bryan Tedricks climbable psychedelic totem pole first debuted at Burning Man in 2010, and hes reprising it this year. This lighthouse of the desert draws people to it and naturally becomes a point to gather and meet, he explained, adding that the trip to the top is not for the weak of mind or body. The climb can be arduous, a gritty challenge progressing from the coarse to fine, from the earth to the sky, from the physical to the spirit.

Wheel of Fortune

The all-female designed and produced installation features a massive spinning wheel emblazoned with tarot card designs, a gazebo area where spectators can relax and, of course, a chandelier made of fire. And its all powered by solar energy, to boot. Its made of salvaged and reclaimed materials and will also act as a large compass, a place for personal reflection, card readings, high teas, and insight, project designer Jill Sutherland told HuffPost in a statement.

The Vulvatron

Whos more fit to build a behemoth tribute to the female anatomy than a group called the Clitterati? The 18-foot tall, LED-lit vagina will also feature video projections of feminine forms and sensory fabrics called the erogenous zone. Were delighted when the name makes someone uncomfortable, the Vulvatrons lead designer, Rebecca Frisch, told HuffPost in a statement. Were using this opportunity to engage in conversation, and were eager to help each other explore our triggers and push social boundaries imposed by our culture.

Pulse and Bloom

An entirely interactive experience, Pulse and Bloom is made up of 25 mechanical lotus flowers . When participants touch the flowers, they light up to the specific rhythms of their heartbeats. We want to use technology to make our inner invisible worlds more visible, artist Saba Ghole told HuffPost.

Lost Tea Party

More art caravan than art car, the Lost Tea Party will traverse the playa as a train of enormous teapots breathing real steam. Revelers are encouraged to climb aboard and will be guided by bedouin tea-pod pullers dressed in traditional desert garb. According to the artist Wreckage, whos spearheading the project with the Mutoid Waste art collective, the piece looks like the unlikely union of Alice in Wonderland meets Lawrence of Arabia.

The Wheels of Zoroaster

This years Wheels is the sixth iteration of a series of human-powered spinning fire wheels that artist Anton Viditz-Ward told HuffPost are inspired by watching Burning Mans legendary fire dancers.

Celestial Mechanica

Viewers are encouraged to interact with artist Jessika Welzs churning, 50-foot replica of our planets revolving around the sun. Well provide the opportunity to experience our solar systems beauty and power with all five of your senses, Ashley Ortega, who volunteers on the team creating the piece, told HuffPost. At night, each planet will glow from within.

ParaSolvent

First time Burning Man artist Dan Benedict, who hopes to keep the aesthetics of his piece a surprise until it debuts, describes the project as a large ring of red parasols that pass through a human figure while closed. As the parasols exit the figure and rise they open, blossom toward the apex and close again on their way down. He added that, as a former member of the Mormon church, he often turns to his art as a means of connecting with others.

Return of the Racken

We are the only art installation youre supposed to lock your bike to, artist Tyler Fuqua told HuffPost of his octopus-shaped creation , which first made an appearance at last years Burn and has since been updated with new tentacle sections. I mean, who will forget they locked their bike to a giant octopus?

Squared

Charles Gadekens 50-foot-tall tree, made entirely of LED-lit cubes attached to square steel tubing, reflects the universe of complexity, mystery, and serendipity that defines our journey through time and our emergence into the future age, he told HuffPost in a statement. The tree provides shade during the day and a magical light show when from dusk till dawn.

Tree of (Im)permanence

The Tree of (Im)permanence rises from a tiny toy piano that, when its played, activates tubular bell chimes that form its branches. At night, the branches light up as their note is played, and creator Nick Geurts hopes individuals will lead yoga and meditation sessions beneath it. This is meant to be not only an auditory experience but a journey of self-discovery, he told HuffPost.

The Last Outpost

A house that will haunt the darkest corners of your psyche, the Last Outpost is an immersive experience that tells the story of a group of Burning Man volunteers who mysteriously disappear. I love slow, psychological, horror and science fiction and fantasy, and this installation is pretty much like building a set for an insidiously scary play that no one has written yet, artist Shing Yin Khor told Huffpost. I hope that people will wander through this house, and spend some time unraveling the mystery within it.

Hayam Sun Temple

Designer Josh Haywood drew his inspiration from the Moorish buildings he studied as a graduate student of architecture. He hopes his tiny palace named for love will serve as a physical and spiritual retreat for passersby. The structure provides a refuge from the heat of the sun and an intimate spiritual place for people to gather and rest, he told HuffPost. During the night the four pillars illuminate like a giant lantern.