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What attracts you to working with ice?
The idea of not thinking about the future -
working with an ephemeral material and
being in the creative moment.
How do you make sure each year is
different? Where do you find inspiration?
Both new and old artists arrive for each new
Icehotel build and they always challenge what
is possible to create; that's how I get inspiration.
We also have a policy that nothing is repeated
except the chandeliers.
Describe your typical day during the
building of the Icehotel?
First thing I check my emails and meet with all
the artists. After that, my day is spent consulting
the teams, attending to whichever project I'm
running myself and meeting with the press.
Sometimes in the evening I serve dinner in my
house across the river; I like to cook with local
fish and game.
Sculptor Arne Bergh became the Creative Director of the Icehotel
in 1997 and oversees the annual selection of the international team
of artists who come together to design and build this incredible
feat of architecture. We caught up with him to find out more...
Try ice sculpting for yourself or read
our blog to find out what it's like.
How important is Icehotel's 25th
anniversary to you?
It means that we have become a sustainable
attraction, valuable not only for ourselves but
also for the community, Lapland and Sweden.
What's been your favourite design/
Art Suite/ice creation?
Hmm...difficult question! I get new favourites
each year. My intention is that every new edition
of the Icehotel should be the best, and so I
always fancy the new designs that interpret the
ice and snow in a new way.
What is your vision for Icehotel's future?
To keep up the good work, never leaning back
and trusting that we can just go on like before.
To continue developing new techniques in
building, to create more art!
5 minutes with
ARNE BERGH