One of my life's favorite experiences was when my friend Erik Hobijn - a Dutch pyrotechnician and machine artist - set me on fire with his Self Immolation Machine in 1991.

The machine is very large. Its center is comprised of a small horizontal platform for one person to stand on, with a large flame thrower pointing at the person from one side, and an equally large water extinguisher pointing at the person from the opposite side. A chosen number of seconds after the person is set on fire by the flame thrower the platform spins horizontally 180 degrees so that the burning person now faces the water pipe, and water gushes out to extinguish the flames.

What made the experience especially exciting for me was that it was possible to be set on fire in regular clothes, bare face, and eyes wide open by using clear anti burn paste. There's nothing quite like a huge fireball shooting towards your face; and seeing the world through flickering flames. The machine had only been tested by Erik himself at that point, who had suffered burns in the process. I exited this incredible experience unharmed.

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