NORMAL LIFE: Helsinki Zoo International Ice Sculpture Competition

We braved the bitter winds are we stumbled through the snow covering the exposed island of Korekeasaari ('High Island). A freezing -8°C, Bree and I paid a visit to the island - doubling us as Helsinki's only Zoo - to see the ice sculptures of the International Ice Sculpture Competition.

Korkeasaari consists of 22 hectares of rock and you can access the island via a footbridge from the nearby recreation area of Mustikkamaa; the island has been a recreational part for Helsinki since 1569. In summer, Korkeasaari is one of the most popular places to visit and, during today's sub-zero temperatures, it was still proving popular; we had to queue for nearly 45 minutes just to get tickets!

We watched the 14 teams of 2 work away, chain sawing blocks to ice and using more common devices such as irons and hairdryers to work their magic with the ice. Below are just some of the awsome pictures taken on this wonderfully blue, but bitterly cold day! Click on each photo to see the bigger, more detailed version. Click the 'back' button to return to the blog entry.

Read more here:-
http://www.artmeetsice.fi/english.htm