Winter preserved at Russian ice sculpture park
21 May, 2008, 10:39
Moscow’s weather may be hot and humid at the moment, but one part of the city is permanently frozen over. 90 tonnes of ice sculptures are kept below zero at Moscow’s Krasnopresnensky Park.
Watch photos from the Ice Sculptures Gallery
“The gallery is unique. It's the first all year round ice sculpture gallery in Russia,” says Vladimir Pavlov, organizer of the ice sculpture festival.
The frozen wonderland was created by Russia’s twelve best ice sculptors. Aleksandr Kuklev, 66, came from Samara to contribute his share to the gallery's creation. Four decades ago, Kuklev gave up bronze and marble as basic materials for his sculptures, and favored a more delicate material, ice!
“Ice has unlimited abilities in art. I have about 50 ice sculpture techniques. I have invented a special machine and I am going to patent it,” Kuklev said.
Works by Kuklev and his colleagues make the gallery’s visitors freeze with excitement. The ice world charms seem to affect both children and adults.