A group of Balinese artists from Himpunan Seniman Pecatu (HSP) has made a remarkable achievement at the prestigious Harbin International Snow Sculpture Competition 2025 in China.
The competition, held from January 6 to 9, 2025, saw the participation of 26 teams from around the world, and the Balinese team earned recognition for their impressive snow sculpture titled “Tri Guna.”
The sculpture, created by a team of four artists—I Nyoman Sungada, I Wayan Mardina, Gede Agus Kurniawan, and I Ketut Suaryana—won the “Commemorative Prize.”
The artwork represented the Hindu philosophical concept of “Tri Guna,” illustrating the three human qualities: Sattwam (calm and wise), Rajas (energetic and ambitious), and Tamas (passive and lazy).
The snow sculpture was carved from a 4-meter-high snow block with a diameter of 3×3 meters and took 3.5 days to complete under extreme cold temperatures of -26°C.
Overcoming Challenges
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Despite the freezing temperatures, which posed a challenge for the artists who were not accustomed to such conditions, the team worked diligently and with great care.
The intense cold was the biggest hurdle, but the team expressed pride in their work, even though they had some disappointment with the judges’ final decision.
As I Nyoman Sungada shared via DetikBali, “Astungkara, we managed to work optimally.”
This year’s win adds to the impressive history of HSP, which has participated in eight international snow sculpture competitions, including events in Japan and China.
Over the years, the group has received numerous accolades, including third-place finishes and special awards. Sungada, a key member of the team, expressed hope that greater support from both the government and private sectors would help further the sustainability of Balinese art and culture on the global stage.
He said, “Greater support will really help us for the sustainability of art and culture in the world.”
The Harbin Snow Sculpture Competition, part of the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, has been held annually since 1985, with a brief pause during China’s Cultural Revolution.
This year’s event has added another prestigious accomplishment to Bali’s growing reputation in the international art community.
photo by @himpunansenimanpecatu
