

AfrikaBurn is an annual event held in the deserts of the Tankwa Karoo in South Africa that invites artists to display their work and then eventually light it up in a blaze of glory, in true Burning Man fashion. The regional event, which most recently hosted approximately 6,500 people, follows the same eleven guiding principles as Nevada's famed Burning Man festival, encouraging “communal effort, decommodification and total expression of the self.”

Following the basic guidelines, the festival's 2013 Archetypes theme welcomed thousands of visitors and participants with some truly incredible installations. One of the most prominent figures included artist Daniel Popper's massive, 9-meter-high sculpture of a man with outstretched arms. The three-story structure was fitted with custom LED lights with seventeen different simulations programmed by Justin Eastman. Other structures ranged from abstract pieces of land art to illuminated pathways.

Check out some of the best photos of AfrikaBurn 2013, below.

Top photo via Ben Malandrios / Artist: Daniel Popper and Chris Shelvey / Artwork title: Reflection



Sarah Duff / Artist: Daniel Popper and Chris Shelvey / Artwork title: Reflection



Daniel Popper / Artist: Daniel Popper and Chris Shelvey / Artwork title: Reflection



Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Daniel Popper and Chris Shelvey / Artwork title: Reflection



Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Daniel Popper and Chris Shelvey / Artwork title: Reflection



Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Kim Goodwin / Artwork title: The Wattle Tower



Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Kim Goodwin / Artwork title: The Wattle Tower



Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Kim Goodwin / Artwork title: The Wattle Tower



Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Kim Goodwin / Artwork title: The Wattle Tower (Lara Kirsten performing on piano



ZA SiTES / Artist: Verity Maud / Artwork Title: Psychels



Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Verity Maud / Artwork Title: Psychels



Jonx Pillemer / Artists: Fata Morgana Crew / Artwork Title: Lizzie



ZA SiTES / Artists: Fata Morgana Crew / Artwork Title: Lizzie



Sarah Duff / Artist: Kim Goodwin / Artwork Title: The Earth Pods



Sean Furlong / Artist: Kim Goodwin / Artwork Title: The Earth Pods



Sarah Duff / Artist: Kim Goodwin / Artwork Title: The Earth Pods



Jonx Pillemer / Artist: Justin Eastman / Artwork Title: Tunnel of Questionable Enlightenment



Sean Furlong / Artist: Justin Eastman / Artwork Title: Tunnel of Questionable Enlightenment



Sarah Duff Artist: T.N.T / Artwork Title: Archeclan



Jonx Pillemer / Artist: T.N.T / Artwork Title: Archeclan



Jonx Pillemer Artist: T.N.T / Artwork Title: Archeclan



Simon Max Bannister / Artist: Simon Max Bannister / Artwork Title: Compression



Simon Max Bannister / Artist: Simon Max Bannister / Artwork Title: Compression



Simon Max Bannister / Artist: Simon Max Bannister / Artwork Title: Compression