Duncan Hamilton - Ice Sculptor

Background Information

A short history of ice sculpture

Ice is a transient medium so it is impossible to say exactly where and when ice sculpture began. However, in the north of countries like Japan and China, ice carving has a long history. The city of Harbin in North East China holds an ice lantern show each year with ice sculptures in the shape of people, animals, flowers, trees, buildings, etc. More than 30 000 people visit the sculptures, which are illuminated at night. Sculptures depict ancient legends and medieval stories, as well as modern historic events.

Ice sculpture is a much more recent phenomenon in the West and each year the World Ice Art Championships are held in Fairbanks in Alaska. The ice at Fairbanks is so clear and of such good quality that it is possible to read a newspaper through a four-foot block of ice. A few years ago ice sculpting was added to the Winter Olympics as a cultural competition. Many of the world’s best ice sculptors have come from a culinary tradition, creating decorations for banqueting tables. Ice sculptors need to be strong, imaginative and to not mind working in conditions that are sometimes well below freezing.