

PT 619 - Sphinx Gate with Mareesa Stertz and Tania Abdul
Jul 31, 2025
Mareesa Stertz and Tania Abdul, the visionaries behind the ambitious Sphinx Gate project for Burning Man 2025, delve into how art and play can fuel personal and collective transformation. They share insights on the mythical inspiration from The NeverEnding Story and the evolving experience of self-discovery through immersive installations. The duo discusses the importance of community co-creation, emotional exploration, and envisioning future traveling art that fosters joy and integration, making the Sphinx Gate a transformative journey for all.
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Sphinx Gate's Transformative Art Quest
- Sphinx Gate uses large sphinx sculptures and an interactive art quest to help participants explore inner challenges and self-worth.
- It gamifies self-discovery through body, breath, and emotional play within community for transformative impact.
Transversive Art Beyond Immersion
- Sphinx Gate defines itself as 'transversive' art, going beyond immersion to enable transformation through active participant co-creation.
- Participants' experience changes for themselves and others, embodying collective meaning-making and empowerment.
Burning Man's Radical Gifting Culture
- Burning Man fosters a radical gifting culture, building a temporary city of art, play, and community with no commodification.
- Mareesa views it as a transformative week highlighting what makes people alive and expanding their ideas of community life.