Snow Art On Golf Course In Finland Attracts International Attention

Sculpted in snow with thousands of steps, a large web of geometric patterns has emerged on a golf course in Finland, attracting worldwide attention.

The magnificent project in the town south of Espoo was the work of amateur artist Janne Pyykkö and 11 volunteers.

Using ropes and snow boots, Mr. Pyykkö and his team did this artwork in two days last weekend.

Finland’s Largest Snow Art

Measuring 160m (525ft) across, this masterpiece is considered to be the largest snow art ever made in the country.

“I’ve done small projects before,” Mr. Pyykkö, IT’s IT co-ordinator for CGI, told the BBC. “I wanted to go to the next level, do something more complicated than before.”

Inspired by his “hero” Simon Beck – a British artist known for his paintings – Mr Pyykkö said he “wanted to create something beautiful” in the wide powder near his home.

First of all, Mr Pyykkö designed the pattern of interlocking shapes on his computer at home.

The painting contained six major types of snow style – all very different – with a star in the center of the link.

How Was The Art Made?

While excited about the project, Mr. Pyykkö hired partners from a Finnish snow-shoeing Facebook group.

Mr. Pyykkö published detailed plans for each volunteer, instructing them to follow his design at the Löfkulla golf course, near the capital, Helsinki.

To make the patterns, they use string and wear snow boots measuring 50cm long and 30cm wide.

Mr Pyykkö said the project was a “social challenge” because he had never organized a team of volunteers to do snow art before.

“I was teaching this way of drawing to the volunteers, I only knew two people in advance,” he said.

Despite this, the volunteers were able to carry out Mr. Pyykkö’s instructions accurately in their first attempt.

Volunteering Experience

One volunteer, Elena Ceccarelli, told AFP news agency the group spent “three hours laughing together and walking”.

“Besides, it was going to be cold, but Janne [Pyykkö] was doing well on time,” he said.

The artwork was only designed to be temporary, remaining visible for as long as the elements allow.

But excited by the interest his art has generated, Mr Pyykkö said he had further projects in mind.

In the future, however, they may be “slightly smaller”, he said.