35 sculptors from 13 countries to take part in Jelgava Ice Sculpture Festival

RIGA - The 26th International Ice Sculpture Festival will take place in Jelgava from February 7 to 9. This year 35 sculptors from 13 countries will take part in the festival, LETA was informed by the Jelgava municipal institution Kultura.

The jury selected the participants based on the ideas, aesthetic value, technical sketches and experience of the artists in a sketch competition held before the start of the festival. The competition attracted 50 applications from 21 countries, and 30 sculptors from 13 countries, including Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Mongolia, Italy, Argentina, as well as, for the first time in the festival's history, Iran and Japan, were accepted to take part.

The sculptors will create 45 sculptures for the competition - 15 team works on Pasta Island and 30 individual works on Janis Cakste Boulevard. In addition, five sculptors will create an ice bar and interactive photo sculptures where visitors can become part of the art - climb a rocket, look into a telescope or visit the moon!

The sculptures will bring to life theories of the birth of the universe, planetary systems and mythological constellations. Artists will reflect on the human relationship with the cosmos, scientific achievements and philosophical moments of reflection, as well as visions of a future universe - colonized planets and possible interactions with other life forms.