Antwerp puts Rubens world on ice

The Elevation of the Cross is frozen in time

A winter wonderland of scenes from Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens is being created by ice artists in the Belgian city of Antwerp.

From Jesus on the cross to adoring shepherds to the Abduction of Ganymede, the scenes are brought to life in blue-tinged ice sculptures.

The creations are part of the Belgian International Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival, which runs until January.

The World of Rubens theme has attracted artists from around the world.

About 40 sculptors, many armed with chainsaws, chisels and woolly hats, have recreated the giant figures from 350 tonnes of snow and ice inside a huge tent maintained at freezing temperatures.

Scenes from 16th century Antwerp have also been conjured up by the ice masters - with watery versions of the cathedral, the market square, guild houses and Rubens' own home all glistening at the show.

Ice addiction

Event organiser Alexander Deman said the festival had taken five weeks to set up.

"The first week was the set up of the tent, isolation, the cooling," he said.

Scenes from Rubens' everyday life were also recreated

"The second week was the arrival of the ice blocks and the snow. We had about 28 big trucks of snow and ice arrive here, and the last three weeks of the construction period was the sculpting."

US snow sculptor Steve Leister, who has lived in Alaska and Russia, says his art is like an addiction.

"When I first picked up an ice chisel, it was very sharp and I pushed it and it made this 'crisp' sound, and the feel of it was so delicious, and I still have that pleasure," he said.

The festival marks the end of a year of celebrations marking the life of Rubens in Belgium.

While Rubens' works live on, the ice sculptures will leave only memories and a lot of water.