Indonesia’s delegation secured third place at the 2026 Harbin International Snow Sculpture Competition in Harbin, China.
One of the team members, Agus Kurniawan, came from ARYADUTA Bali. The international competition brought together 25 teams from 13 countries, demonstrating that Balinese artists can compete on the global stage, despite coming from a region without snow. They successfully earned international recognition with a snow sculpture inspired by Dewi Dhanvantari.
The Harbin International Snow Sculpture Competition is a prestigious annual winter art event held in Harbin, China. It is widely recognised as one of the world’s most prominent snow sculpture festivals. In 2026, the competition brought together 25 teams from 13 countries, including Russia, Mongolia and the host country, China, showcasing exceptional artistic talent from around the world.
Indonesia was represented by a delegation from Bali led by I Nyoman Sungada as team captain, alongside I Ketut Suarnaya and Gede Agus Kurniawan, a team member from ARYADUTA Bali, and I Gede Agustin Anggara Putra. The team was supported by photographer Kadek Aryate and companion Wayan Mardina.
Amid strong international competition, first place was awarded to Russia, second place to China and Mongolia, and third place to the Bali team representing Indonesia.
For the 2026 competition, the Indonesian delegation presented a snow sculpture inspired by Dewi Dhanvantari, a revered Hindu figure symbolising healing, fertility and universal balance. Despite the unfamiliar and challenging medium, the artwork reflected Bali’s deep spiritual heritage and cultural values and was translated into an extraordinary snow sculpture.
The creation process came with significant challenges. The team worked in temperatures ranging from -14°C to -26°C, made worse by a severe snowstorm on the first day, which temporarily halted the competition and forced participants to resume work the following day. Despite these harsh conditions, the team remained committed and completed the sculpture within the allocated time.
The participation of Balinese artists in a snow sculpture competition raised an intriguing question: How can artists from a tropical island without snow excel in this field? The answer lies in their strong artistic instincts and professional experience in ice carving. Several team members, including those from ARYADUTA Bali, are part of the hotel’s culinary team, for whom ice carvingis a regular practice for gala dinners and special events. During preparation, the team trained using foam materials to simulate the structure and form of snow sculptures.
One of the most memorable aspects of this journey was proving that limitations in materials, climate differences and extreme environments do not hinder creativity. Instead, these limitations became a testament to the team’s resilience, craftsmanship, and dedication, ultimately leading them to achieve third place globally in 2026.
The management of ARYADUTA Bali expressed immense pride and appreciation for the accomplishment of their team member, whose contribution has helped elevate the name of Bali and Indonesia on the international art stage. This achievement reaffirms that Indonesian talent, driven by passion and perseverance, can confidently compete and excel on a global platform.
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