About Cubo de Tezcatlipoca: Tezcat's Cube
Tezcat’s Cube is an interdimensional art installation premiering at Burning Man 2025, created by artist Danny Palacios (Playa name: 3D).
Who is Tezcatlipoca?
Tezcatlipoca is one of the most powerful and enigmatic gods in Aztec mythology — the god of the night sky, dreams, sorcery, and change. Known as “The Smoking Mirror,” he wielded an obsidian mirror through which he saw all things, including hidden truths and the dreams of mortals. A master of illusion and transformation, he could bring both chaos and wisdom, often testing humanity’s strength and spirit. He ruled over destiny, shadows, and the ever-shifting boundary between reality and dream.
Tezcatlipoca’s nagual, or animal disguise, was the jaguar, the spotted skin of which was compared to the starry sky. A creator god, Tezcatlipoca ruled over Ocelotonatiuh (“Jaguar-Sun”), the first of the four worlds that were created and destroyed before the present universe. Tezcatlipoca was generally represented with a stripe of black paint across his face and an obsidian mirror in place of one of his feet. Other representations show Tezcatlipoca with his mirror on his chest. Myth has it that he sacrificed his foot to save the universe.
Description, Visual, and Interactivity Impact
Cubo de Tezcatlipoca: Tezcat’s Cube is an art installation rooted in Aztec mythology—bringing the past to the present and today into the future. There's no tomorrow like today. As this year's Burning Man theme, "Tomorrow Today," suggests. At first glance, it appears as a large, wood framed cube with two-way mirrors with reflective surfaces by day, mirroring the endless playa and sky, nearly vanishing into the desert around it. But as night falls, the interior awakens: a glowing dreamscape of illuminated clouds suspended within a field of shimmering stars. Inside the cube, ambient string lights pulse softly, clouds shift with colors, and LED lights illuminate the cube’s frame, evoking a moment of absorption. Honoring Tezcatlipoca, this cube is more than art: it’s a sacred space for self-reflection, cultural storytelling, and transformative experiences.
Visually, the installation plays with perception, disappearing and reappearing depending on light, angle, and time, much like our dusty time in the desert. It is not merely a sculpture, but a vessel of illusion and reflection.
Inspired by Tezcatlipoca, "The Smoking Mirror," this installation invites passerby to look closely into a mirrored cube filled with suspended clouds, ambient lighting, and shifting colors—creating an intimate piece for introspection. Participants are invited during the day to reflect in front of the mirrored surfaces and to engage actively by recording their experience, hopes, dreams, desires, or any other contemplations or messages in provided journals for others to read. Additionally, postcards will be available for people to write a note to their future selves, aligning with this year's Burning Man theme, "Tomorrow Today." A limited number of postcards will be collected in a dropbox near the installation and mailed to participants at a future date.
About The Artist
Danny Palacios, known on Playa as 3D, is a San Francisco-based Mexican-American artist who has attended Burning Man annually from 2011 to 2024. As a longtime member and co-lead of the Mudskippers Urban Decay Cafe theme camp, Danny has expressed his creativity and passion for community through photography and interactive experiences, including gifting Polaroid portraits to countless visitors to his portrait studio within the Mudskippers theme camp.
In 2024, Danny debuted his first large-scale art installation, Kurious Portal, marking a significant step in his artistic journey. For Burning Man 2025, he returns with Cubo de Tezcatlipoca: Tezcat’s Cube, his second and most creative project yet. This new installation deeply reflects his love for mythological storytelling, cultural heritage, and immersive art experiences.
Danny is thrilled to share this evolving vision with the Burning Man community, grateful for your support in bringing this passion project to life.
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Kurious Portal
Kurious Portal was last year's art installation inspired by the 2024 Burning Man theme, Curiouser & Curiouser. It was designed to be a gateway to a magical dimension and a transformative experience. Kurious Portal allowed participants to experience the magic of stepping through a doorway that acts as a portal to the ever-changing, beautiful landscape of Black Rock City.
The interactivity really came to life at night. A full-color projector laser light was turned on from the top of the frame (pointed down to the ground), picking up the dust particles to create the illusion of a light portal. Color changing LED lights lit up the portal. Mirrors on the inside created an infinite illusion to another dimension as one passed by. A poem was posted at the entrance, inviting the participants to step through and be transported by light and story to a different version of themselves.
Build Team L to R: Victor Palacios, Danny Palacios, Indigo Avisov, David Palacios
Kurious Portal placement by the MAN:
Shot at sunset
BE APART OF THE JOURNEY
HELP ME REACH THE GOAL OF $5,000
Initial Goal: $5,000 | Stretch Goal: $7,000 BY July 31, 2025
Get Rewarded for your Generosity
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$25: A beautifully designed commemorative sticker that I will be gifting this year at Burning Man and a personalized thank you postcard featuring artwork inspired by Tezcatlipoca in Aztec codex style.
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$50: Add Tezcatlipoca to your fridge or anywhere a magnet can stick. This magnet will be encoded with Tezcat's power to bring transformation to your life. You will also get the sticker and postcard.
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$100: A one of a kind 12x12 wall calendar with photos taken by the artist at Burning Man. Plus all the above.
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$250: A limited-edition art print taken by the artist at Burning Man. Will also be signed and LIMITED to 100 prints. Plus all the above.
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$500: The Tezcat Bundle- All the above rewards plus a unique handcrafted Tezcatlipoca Pendant by the artist. Your name inscribed in the Reflection Journals placed at the Tezcat's Cube. A special bandana with Tezcatlipoca art illustrated in vivid Aztec style.
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$1,000: The Ultimate Tezcat Bundle- All previous rewards and an exclusive travel bundle perfect for your dusty adventures. The bundle includes a personalized water bottle, t-shirt, and hoodie to keep warm at night. Your name will also be inscribed on the frame of the cube for the ultimate support.
Please Donate Directly
This year I'm eliminating the middle man (FU FEES) and making it more streamline for direct donations with less hassle for both of us. Click on the QR code to take you to the app for donation.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE WITH SO MUCH LOVE AND GRATITUDE 🙏♥️
For direct deposit thru Zelle and Apple Cash:
Danny Palacios | 415-378-3934
Please write Tezcat's Cube Donation on memo
Your Kind Donation Supports:
Bringing Cubo de Tezcatlipoca to life requires significant resources. Your generous donations will directly fund:
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$2,500 Materials (wood, two- way mirrors, LED lights, metal framing and support system)
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$1,500 Environmentally friendly solar-powered generator with backup battery
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$1,000 Transportation to/from Black Rock City (U-HAUL Rental)
Stretch Goal ($2,000) Enhanced interactivity, journals, postcards and post-Burn postcards mailed via USPS
Every donation matters. Every share amplifies my reach. Please share with you friends and family.
✨Donate. Share. Join the dream.✨
Thank you for supporting visionary art, cultural diversity, and communal experiences at Burning Man 2025!
CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH
Follow The Journey
After your direct donation please fill out this form so that I know you made a contribution and help me keep track especially if you donated at a reward level. I will update the donation goal tracker as donations come in.
Donor Information
"REALITY IS MIRRORED BY WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO SEE."
― Tezcatlipoca