Madrid hosts first International Ice Festival

Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain, Nov 16 (EFE).- Some of the world’s best ice sculptors have gathered near Madrid to compete in the first edition of the International Ice Festival which opens on Friday in Torrejon de Ardoz.

Working in pairs, 22 artists from 10 different countries have seven days to create their sculptures from 15 blocks of ice per team.

They have 11 hours a day to work on their creations before the opening on Friday.

“In this room, there are six world champions (…) There are people of many nationalities and that is reflected in the artistic style of each one,” Juan Carlos Arellano, glacier director of the festival, told Efe.

Bundled up and with a chainsaw in hand, the 11 teams are working on creating fantastic creatures, this year’s festival theme.

“We work below zero, everything is slippery, everything is heavy, everything cuts, and 80% of the piece is done with chainsaws,” Arellano said.

“It is a job that requires extreme safety and precautions,” he added.

Originality, precision, proportions, expressions, and the visitors’ votes are some of the criteria that the jury will consider when awarding the top three prizes of 15,000, 10,000, and 5,000 euros on Saturday, November 19.

The exhibition will also include works of world champions Junichi Nakamura and Shinichi Sawamura —this year’s special guests.

The ice sculptures are to be exhibited at Torrejon’s Christmas fair until January 7. EFE

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