Jinnan Zheng on the Ephemeral Beauty of Ice Sculptures at Harbin Festival
Jinnan Zheng, a renowned ice sculptor, is featured in a Great Big Story video discussing his work at the annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in Harbin, China. The festival runs from early January to late February, transforming the city into an open-air museum with dozens of artists creating massive ice and snow constructions. Zheng details his creative process from initial sketch to final finish, and reflects on the melancholic moment when rising temperatures cause his sculptures to melt. He admits he cannot bear to watch them disappear, but the ephemeral nature drives him to create better works each year. The festival is a temporary winter event that showcases the unique art form of ice sculpting.
Key facts
- Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival takes place annually in Harbin, China.
- The festival runs from early January to late February.
- Dozens of snow and ice artists produce sculptures during the festival.
- Jinnan Zheng is one of the most famous and admired ice sculptors.
- Great Big Story produced a video featuring Zheng's testimony.
- Zheng explains his process from first sketch to finishing touches.
- Zheng feels melancholy when temperatures rise and sculptures melt.
- The ephemeral nature of ice art motivates Zheng to create better works.
Entities
Artists
- Jinnan Zheng
Institutions
- Great Big Story
- Artribune
Locations
- Harbin
- China