Latvian Festival Shows “Mysteries” Made From Ice

The annual ice sculpture festival kicked-off in Jelgava, Latvia. 

 

The theme of the 14th edition of the international event was "Mysteries," and 26 sculptors from eight countries worked for several days in freezing temperatures to chisel their artworks. 

 

They used 30 tons of ice to create more than 50 large and middle scale sculptures.

 

[Laura Stelpe, Visitor]:

"This year it is really spellbinding. Fantastic sculptures, unrivaled - compared to the last year. It is obvious that this year very gifted artists participated. The sculptures are unique, it is amazing to watch, I suppose, something like this is rarely to be seen."

 

[Aleksandr Tvogorov, Local Resident]: 

"This year it was the best, because it is cold. Some years it was rainy, and the sculptures were melting in the rain. All in all, it is an excellent festival."

 

The first place in the competition went to the Lithuanian-Latvian team with their sculpture "flame that inspires." 

 

The artists say the artwork embodies the balance between heaven and earth, life and death.