HELSINKI (AP) – An ephemeral work of art made with thousands of steps in the snow has caught attention near the Finnish capital Helsinki.
Under the direction of local amateur and resident artist Janne Pyykko, 11 volunteers dressed in snowshoes stamped a series of intricate geometric patterns on a golf course. Together, the designs look like a huge snowflake.
The work of art, which was completed over two days, measures about 160 meters (525 feet) in diameter. The Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat said it could be the largest snow drawing ever made in the Nordic country.
“This was a way for me to develop as a human being,” he told the Pyykko newspaper, which is inspired by visual effects and has created smaller snow illustrations for himself. “I wanted to learn how to inspire people and see if I could guide them.”
Pyykko says the drawing looks best from the air, but told the Finnish media on Wednesday that to draw the snowshoe patterns to follow within a certain area of the Lofkulla golf course required a large terrain planning.
The work was designed to be temporary, only to last until the next snowfall or strong winds clear the footprints.