The uniqueness of ICEHOTEL lies in the richness of variety, the different experiences of work and material that the artists inhabit. Street artists, landscape architects, church constructors and known stenographers - they are all drawn to the power and possibilities that the crystal clear ice from Torne River possesses.
“The concept of our suite is the same as the characteristics of the material.; the relation between power, strength and deadliness. The material itself has given us the theme”, say Johnann Kauppi and Nina Mårtensson, Sweden.
The contributions and visions vary as much as the individuals behind them do. But this year’s chosen artists have one thing in common; through thought-provoking expressions they aim to turn the world we live in into a more interesting place. They want to reflect the frozen movement that you find in the ice and that makes you stop and think.
The 17th ICEHOTEL opens the doors the 8th of December and closes again in mid April, when it once again becomes one with Torne River. This year’s ICEHOTEL holds about 82 ice rooms, of which 22 are suites. With working titles such as Hammam, Wetlands, Contact and 22:05, visitors and guests in the suites can expect new worlds, playful landscapes and interactive environments but also calmness and harmony.
“Water is just another condition of the ice and snow. We wish our visitors stillness, softness and a nice dream”, says the sculptor Liliya Pobornikova and the architect Viktor Tsarski from Bulgaria. Liliya travels to ICEHOTEL directly from Brazil where she currently is sculpting in alabaster.
Also Hollywood is visiting ICEHOTEL this year. Doug Meerdink and David E. Scott – Art Director and Graphic Designer of blockbusters such as Mission Impossible III, War of the Worlds, Mr & Mrs Smith, The Island and Jurassic Park 3, handed in an application in last minute. Their suite – The Helices – is based on the wonderment for that which lies beyond our worldly reach.
One of the suites will be created by the winners of the Danish design company Fritz Hansen’s design competition that was held during the autumn 2006. Three designer teams were invited to Jukkasjärvi to solve the task: What would Room 606 (the only room at SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen where all Arne Jacobsen's original furniture are still on display) look like today if you where to design it? Fritz Hansen is since 2003/2004 a partner to ICEHOTEL and their furniture decorate both the reception and the warm accommodation at ICEHOTEL.
Designers and artists 2006/2007:
Asbestos, D Face; England; Suite: The Club
Stefan Beccari, Leonardo Beccari; Italy, Sweden Suite: Lüft
Patrick Dallard, Santo Magonza; Sweden, France Suite: Hammam
Benny Ekman; Sweden; Suite: Virgin Angel
Jennifer Fulmer, Robert Michielsen; USA, The Netherlands; Suite: Cyclic Vortex
Nina Hedman, Sofi Ruotsalainen; Sweden; Suite: Contact
Sakai Hiroyoshi; Japan; Suite: Tsu-Ki-No-Ma
Michael Jermann; Germany; Suite: Flowing Edge
Johan Kauppi, Nina Mårtensson; Sweden; Svit: 22:05
Doug Meerdink, David E. Scott; USA; Suite: The Helices
Natsumi Munakata, Shingo Saito; Japan; Suite: Recurrence
AnnaSofia Mååg; Sweden; Suite: Bubbleboil Swamp
Rashid Sagadeev, Leonid Kopeikin; Russia; Suite: Russian Art Nouveau
Daniel Rosenbaum; Australia; Suite: Life on Earth
Viktor Tsarski, Liliya Pobornikova; Bulgaria; Suite: Still Water
Åke Larsson; Sweden; Suite: Pure Water
Dave Ruane; Ireland; Suite: Artic Contrast
Arne Bergh; Sweden; Suite: 4 blocks of ice
Fritz Hansen; jehs+laub (design duo from Germany); Suite: Room 606
De lux suites Thoms och Nilsson; Sweden; Svit: Luxury
Mark Szulgit, Julia Adzuki; USA, Australia; Suite: Projection Room
The reception Mark Armstrong, Mikael Nille Nilsson; England, Sweden Sculptures Tjåsa Gusfors, Sweden
The Ice Church Marjolein Vonk, Cindy Berg, Jan Willem van de Schoot, Marinus Vroom; The Netherlands, Sweden
ABSOLUT ICEBAR Jukkasjärvi Mark Armstrong, Mikael Nille Nilsson, Åke Larsson, England, Sweden
The Winter Garden Students of Landscape Architecture, Uppsala University, Sweden
For more information: www.icehotel.com
For sketches: camilla@icehotel.com