Artists from around the world compete to carve masterpieces out of ice blocks at Harbin ice festival

Record ID: 163403

  • Title: Artists from around the world compete to carve masterpieces out of ice blocks at Harbin ice festival
  • Date: 7th January 2017
  • Summary: HARBIN CITY, HEILONGJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA (JANUARY 6, 2017) (REUTERS) ARTISTS AT WORK IN ICE SCULPTURE VENUE VARIOUS OF ARTIST CARVING AT ICE ARTIST DRILLING AT ICE SCULPTURE ARTIST FROM ITALY, FRANCESCA COSMI, LOOKING AT ICE SCULPTURE DIAGRAM/COSMI'S TEAM PARTNER CARVING AT SCULPTURE COSMI'S HANDS HOLDING SCULPTURE DIAGRAM COSMI'S TEAM PARTNER CARVING AT SCULPTURE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARTIST FROM ITALY, FRANCESCA COSMI, SAYING: "There are many circles, because of the flow, and so this will be difficult because we have to be precise, and also, we'll see. There are some surprises. And we hope that ice sculpture will be well-rooted in the ground, and then, at the same time, very light at the top." VARIOUS OF ICE SCULPTOR FROM JILIN PROVINCE, YUE CHANGSHUI, CARVING AT SCULPTURE ICE CARVING OF CHILD ON TOP OF DOLPHIN (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) ICE SCULPTOR FROM JILIN PROVINCE, YUE CHANGSHUI, SAYING: "This year is a bit warmer than the last. But this doesn't have a big effect on our ice carvings. As long as the temperature is below zero, it won't have any effect on the ice, so this sort of weather is pretty normal, so it's no issue. For us contestants, there is also something good about this, so we can work much more hands-on since it isn't very cold." HARBIN CITY, HEILONGJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA (JANUARY 7, 2017) (REUTERS) CLAY SCULPTURE IN FRONT OF ICE CARVINGS VARIOUS OF ARTIST CARVING ICE SCULPTURE VARIOUS OF CANADIAN ARTIST STEVE BUZAK, CARVING ICE SCULPTURE COSMI'S TEAM PARTNER CARVING AT SCULPTURE (SOUNDBITE) (English) CANADIAN ARTIST STEVE BUZAK, SAYING: "Well, of course we're going for the gold medal, right? But it's very tough competition here, very tough competition. I think there's thirty teams from around the world, and we're the only team from Canada and North America, so we want to make Canada proud, and hopefully take the podium." ICE SCULPTURE VENUE SCULPTOR PUTTING PIECE ONTO ICE SCULPTURE SCULPTOR LOOKING SPEAKING TO COLLEAGUE SCULPTOR LOOKING AT COLLEAGUE AS HE PLACES ICE PIECE ONTO SCULPTURE ARTISTS AT WORK ON SCULPTURES HORSE HEAD CARVED INTO ICE
  • Embargoed: 22nd January 2017 06:35
  • Keywords: China ice festival ice sculptures sculptors competition carving ice blocks Harbin
  • Location: HARBIN CITY, HEILONGJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA
  • City: HARBIN CITY, HEILONGJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015Y2ZGIH
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Artists from around the world are competing to carve masterpieces out of blocks of ice from a nearby river at Harbin's International Ice and Snow Festival.
    The contest, which is held over a period of two and a half days from Friday (January 6) to Sunday (January 8), has attracted 32 teams from more than ten countries including China, Russia, Malaysia and Japan.
    Participants, a handful of whom are professional ice carvers, are racing against time to carve a design of their liking which will be in competition for a gold, silver, or bronze medal.
    Italian sculptor Francesca Cosmi and her colleague are carving a sculpture of a man practising Taichi, which she said was fitting for Harbin.
    "There are many circles, because of the flow, and so this will be difficult because we have to be precise, and also, we'll see. There are some surprises. And we hope that ice sculpture will be well-rooted in the ground, and then, at the same time, very light at the top," she said.
    Veteran ice sculptor Yue Changshui from nearby Jilin province said that the relatively warm temperatures this year aren't much of a big deal for the ice carvings.
    "This year is a bit warmer than the last. But this doesn't have a big effect on our ice carvings. As long as the temperature is below zero, it won't have any effect on the ice, so this sort of weather is pretty normal, so it's no issue. For us contestants, there is also something good about this, so we can work much more hands-on since it isn't very cold," said Yang.
    Yang is carving a sculpture of child riding a dolphin through which he wants to convey a message of tolerance in our world.
    Canadian sculptor Steve Buzak and his colleague are carving a bee sitting on a flower.
    "Well, of course we're going for the gold medal, right? But it's very tough competition here, very tough competition. I think there's thirty teams from around the world, and we're the only team from Canada and North America, so we want to make Canada proud, and hopefully take the podium," Buzak said.
    The 33rd International Ice and Snow Festival kicked off on Thursday (January 5) and will last until February 25.
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