Ice sculptures have become a sign not only of extravagance, but also of fleeting beauty. Because of the perishable material they are made with, there's an understanding that they will not last and are created only for the moment in which they exist, whether that moment be in a worldwide contest or a wedding reception. Ice sculptures are also a celebration of the beauty of winter and of the cold, especially embraced in areas with a climate well suited for creating outdoor sculptures in the spirit of nature and the winter.
Great care must be taken in the preparation of the ice, as any air bubbles or imperfections in the ice can cause the sculptures to crack and break while they are being carved. Clean water is the most desirable element in building sculptures, but the freezing process is also important. The temperature of the water is dropped slowly, allowing air bubbles to escape before the water is completely frozen. Carving is usually done with chisels specially adapted for use with ice, or even with chainsaws and power tools. While ice is usually thought of as being clear, there are no limits when it comes to the colors of an ice sculpture. They are often illuminated by colored lights, which not only adds to the character of the sculpture, but accents the details as well.
Contests for ice sculptors are held around the world, though most of the competitions are held in cold climates. Every year, Canada holds the Quebec City Winter Festival, where ice sculptors come to show off their craft. Canada is also the host country for the Ice Magic weekend, where teams of sculptors are given 15 300 lb. blocks of ice and have 3 days to complete their works of art. Alaska is the home of the World Ice Art Championships, which has been running since 1989, and there are also competitions held in cities across Russia.
The largest and most popular country for ice sculptures is China. Each year the city of Harbin holds the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, where sculptors from around the world come to take advantage of the Siberian influenced weather.
Ice sculptures are created in a number of different varieties. Smaller, individual statues are often created for weddings and corporate events, often as a centerpiece to the event. Swans are a popular theme for weddings, and often appear on the main table at the reception, signifying the new couple. Corporate logos are often created in ice for company dinners to parties.
Large-scale ice sculptures can consist of anything from life-size statues of people and animals to reproductions of castles and working hotels. Finland, Norway and Sweden each have ice hotels, where visitors can stay in rooms made entirely of ice and sleep on beds chiseled from huge blocks of ice. These hotels even have bars and restaurants where food is served on tables of ice, and are illuminated by carved ice sculptures. These hotels have the relatively short lifespan associated with other ice sculptures, and are rebuilt on a yearly basis.
Ice sculptures can last anywhere from a matter of moments to months. Those found on the tables at indoor celebrations usually begin melting from the moment they are brought out and put on display, but the sculptures created in areas such as Harbin, China, can last for months. The outdoor temperatures in Harbin dip to 40 degrees F below freezing for half of the year and only slightly warmer for the rest of the year, and can sustain the sculptures for some time.
The temperature also has an effect on the clarity and hardness of the ice. Sculptures and buildings created in northern Scandinavian climates not only last for months, but can accommodate the body heat of visitors wanting to spend their vacation wrapped in furs while sleeping on beds of ice. Guests can take a break in underground saunas when the cold gets to be too much.