Carving a Hindu deity from snow in sub-zero temperatures, a team from Bali overcomes climatic extremes to secure a podium finish at the prestigious Harbin International event.
DENPASAR, Bali — A team of artists from Bali has achieved a remarkable feat on the global stage, securing third place at the 28th Harbin International Snow Sculpture Competition in China. Competing against 24 other teams from 13 nations, the Balinese delegation triumphed over formidable challengers, placing behind first-place Russia and runner-up China and Mongolia.
The victory, however, was hard-won. The artists, members of the Himpunan Seniman Pecatu and Bali Talent Artist groups, faced not only the world’s best sculptors but also the brutal Harbin winter, enduring temperatures plunging to -26°C (-14.8°F) and even a disruptive snowstorm during the competition.
“The main challenges were battling the weather and racing against the clock in the competition, facing extreme cold from -14 to -26 degrees Celsius,” explained team member I Gede Agustin Anggara Putra, as reported by Kompas on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. “On the first day, a snowstorm forced us to stop work temporarily and continue the next day. Despite the cold and freezing conditions, we continued to work on our piece to the best of our ability.”
From Tropical Foam to Frozen Art: Adapting Balinese Craftsmanship
The team, comprising captain I Nyoman Sungada, I Ketut Suarnaya, Gede Agus Kurniawan, photographer Kadek Aryate, and chaperone Wayan Mardina, presented a sculpture titled Dewi Dhawantari. The piece draws from deep Balinese Hindu philosophy, representing the goddess of healing, fertility, and universal balance.
Creating a snow sculpture presented a unique challenge for artists from a tropical island. To prepare, they practiced not with ice or snow, but with blocks of foam.
“Our team has an artistic spirit that can be applied to snow. During practice, we used foam as a medium to approximate the form of the snow statue,” Gustin noted. Their professional experience in hotel event ice carving provided the crucial technical skills needed to translate their vision into the frozen medium.
Their success is a testament to artistic resilience and cross-cultural adaptation. “We proved that despite limitations in media and the extreme difference in temperature, we as artists could still work and demonstrate the dedication behind our masterpiece, enabling us to secure third place in 2026,” Gustin stated with pride.
The achievement highlights the global reach and adaptable nature of Balinese artistic traditions, showcasing its cultural symbols in an unexpected and demanding environment halfway across the world.
Hey Bali News celebrates this international accomplishment, highlighting the skill and perseverance of the island’s creative community.
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