Seven Magic Mountains, Seven Years Later
Ugo Rondinone's colorful installation in the desert still inspires fluorescent and vivid dreams
Well, I think I can finally scroll in peace, free from the pressure to ever post on Instagram again. What a relief! I’ve done it. I’ve earned the 2016-era millennial hipster’s golden medal of achievement (cringe).
I finally snapped my photo of the colorful boulders in the desert. Consider me an indie-influencer? Ha! Don’t worry, I won’t be going to Coachella anytime soon, but last month I did make the drive out to see the Seven Magic Mountains after Park City and before San Diego (more on that soon).
To be fair, I’m quite excited to tell you about it because I thought I had missed my chance to see it. There was a time when you couldn’t scroll without seeing at least one picture of the rocks on Instagram or Pinterest or spread across the pages of travel magazines and newspapers. The Los Angeles Times once called it a “psychedelic stonehenge.” Back in 2018, Dua Lipa even twinned with the rocks for her artsy photo in the desert, which was quickly shared by Vogue. But as rapidly as art and culture installations go viral on social media, things are just as quick to disappear. That's why I was surprised to find out that over seven years later, the Seven Magic Mountains are still here.
It is a testament to the fluorescent and bold creativity of Ugo Rondinone, the Swiss artist, who spent months working with construction teams to cut, core, stack, and paint the boulders before the installation opened in May 2016, thanks to a partnership with the Nevada Museum of Art and the Art Production Fund. The original schedule was for the exhibit to last only two years. Now, it will turn eight years old in a few months and is expected to stay at least until May of 2027.
My friend Luis and I drove to the site, which is about 10 miles south of Las Vegas, just in time to see their vivid glow as the sun was setting.
It was a perfect illusion of scale and proportion set against the vastness of the Nevada desert. It felt as if we had found a treasure, or should I say an oasis far away from the Strip’s overstimulating casinos, bright signs and slot machines. It was tempting in its own way.
Next time you’re in Vegas for a weekend with Adele or a U2 concert at the Sphere or to watch the Superbowl, don’t forget about the Seven Magic Mountains. They’re still there…bright as ever. Selfies mocking the crazy Instagram 2016 culture are…optional.
