About this sculpture

Unfolding Humanity returned to Black Rock City in 2023, completely transformed, as a Burning Man Honorarium project.

This 12-foot interactive dodecahedron sculpture is made of wood, acrylic, steel and over 17,000 LEDs. Participants can unfold a pentagonal wall to immerse themselves in the mirror reflections inside.

The piece pays homage to Albrecht Dürer’s 500-year-old unfolding polyhedron puzzle, with LED animations that explore the possible shape of our universe and humanity’s relationship with technology.

Open for site installation

Unfolding

Humanity

Unfolding Humanity at Burning Man 2023 with blue, purple, and red LED animation Photo by Max Henstell

Mathematics

The excitement and challenges in shape visualization motivate much of Dr. Hoffoss’s mathematical work.

Her research area topology is the study of the fundamental underlying shapes of objects, without taking into account differences created by stretching, shrinking, and distortion.

Her own mathematical research focuses on 3-manifold topology, hyperbolic geometry and flows and foliations.

Diane Hoffoss, PhD

Mathematician
Large Scale LED Sculpture Artist

Diane Hoffoss creates large-scale, geometric, interactive art installations of wood, steel, acrylic, and programmed lighting to inspire joy and curiosity about mathematics and geometric shapes.
 Diane Hoffoss illuminated with green and orange light from Reexion at la jolla cave Photo by  Ariele Baragona