Now I know it's a bit early to be singing Christmas songs but I went to a really exciting lecture today on the
international snow carving competition at Harbin University, China! NTU
takes part in it each year and has in fact
won it in recent years too! Applications take place in September, it's all expenses paid - I'm definitely going to apply!
It was then quite appropriate that I should arrive home to an email from my mum siting this amazing article on
mymodernmet.com If I'm ever bored in the snow again, I know just what I'll be doing! Thanks mum!
Man Walks All Day to Create Spectacular Snow Patterns
Artist Simon Beck must really love the cold weather! Along the frozen
lakes of Savoie, France, he spends days plodding through the snow in
raquettes (snowshoes), creating these sensational patterns of snow art.
Working for 5-9 hours a day, each final piece is typically the size of
three soccer fields! The geometric forms range in mathematical patterns
and shapes that create stunning, sometimes 3D, designs when viewed from
higher levels.
How long these magnificent geometric forms survive is completely
dependent on the weather. Beck designs and redesigns the patterns as new
snow falls, sometimes unable to finish a piece due to significant
overnight accumulations. Interestingly enough, he said, 'The main reason
for making them was because I can no longer run properly due to
problems with my feet, so plodding about on level snow is the least
painful way of getting exercise. Gradually, the reason has become
photographing them, and I am considering buying a better camera.”
Spectacular art for the sake of exercise!
