Visions of winter sport from the snows of Ischgl

What are oversized snowshoes, a ferocious ice hockey player, speedy bob-sleigh riders and a cold mini skier looking for the pistes of Ischgl? From January 10^th to January 14^th, 2022, five artists from different nations will be transforming the Silvretta Arena into an impressive open-air gallery to mark the 28^th ‘Shapes in White’ snow sculpture competition. The motto for 2022 is ‘winter sport’.

Sporty snow art in Ischgl: as oversized snowshoes, a snowboarder, ski-cross racers, bob-sleigh riders, an ice hockey player and a mini skier let off steam on the slopes of Ischgl from January, international visions of winter sport become an icy cold reality. How? During the annual ‘Shapes in White’ snow sculpture competition, artists from all over the world are called upon to transform the Ischgl ski resort into an impressive open-air snow gallery. The motto for 2022 is ‘winter sport’. It remains to be seen in January who creates the best sporty interpretation. From January 10th to January 14th, 2022, five selected pairs of artists from different nations will be spending five days creating a total of five snow sculptures across the ski resort, all up to 10m high. Good to know winter sports fans can watch over the shoulders of the industrious sculptors as they work in the Silvretta Arena. The most attractive work of art will be crowned the winner by the Ischgl jury on January 14th. A card featuring an explanation and the locations of the ‘Shapes in White’ can be obtained free-of-charge on-site.

‘Shapes in White’ – the idea behind the art project

So, what do we do with all the snow? Art – what else? The idea for the ‘Shapes in White’ snow sculpture project was born 29 years ago. Since then, sculptors from all over the world have been submitting their designs to the jury of the Ischgl snow sculpture competition each year. They then select the best and invite five pairs of artists to implement their ideas at the Silvretta Arena. The snow artists then have five days to create their 10m high snow masterpieces in the ski resort which spans 239 km of slopes. The motto is announced in advance and changes each year. A wide range of themes has already been imaginatively implemented featuring sculptures by the founders of the Silvrettaseilbahn AG for the 50^th anniversary (2014), sea creatures (1995) and dragons (2012). This winter, winter sports fans can look forward to discovering interpretations of ‘winter sport’ as part of the 28^th ‘Shapes in White’ snow sculpture competition.

More information: www.ischgl.com/en.