⌂ John Hilla

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THE HOAX AT FLY RANCH

Land Art Generator Initiative
Burning Man Project

The Hoax at Fly Ranch project leveraged the Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) 2020 Fly Ranch design competition as a framework for investigating a parafictional approach to synthetic materials in nature. Situated in the Nevada desert, Fly Ranch is home to a striking geothermal geyser whose colorful mineral deposits and irregular formations appear to blur distinctions between natural geology and artificial construction. The site’s unusual visual character provided a unique opportunity to examine how speculative narratives and digital media fabrication can reshape the interpretation and representation of natural phenomena.

This project is centered around a parafictional account of the geyser’s formation, treating its colorful accumulations as synthetic artifacts rather than naturally occurring processes. The research began with a formal analysis of the mineral terraces and algae-covered mounds that have grown from decades of geothermal activity. These formations were then reconstructed in terracotta using sculptural techniques intended to mirror the additive processes of growth and deposition. The resulting physical model was ultimately digitized through photogrammetry, producing a three-dimensional dataset for further analysis.

The geyser’s vibrant coloration and layered textures complicate a straightforward reading of its geometry, producing an ambiguous condition in which visual information often supersedes spatial legibility. In response, a series of digital texture studies were developed to investigate how abstraction, color, and pattern influence the perception of form across both two-dimensional and three-dimensional representations. By translating the geyser between physical and digital media, the project explored how processes of modeling, imaging, and representation can generate alternative readings of natural objects.