HELSINQUE (AP) – An ephemeral work of art made with thousands of steps in the snow drew attention near the capital of Finland, Helsinki.
Under the guidance of local resident and amateur artist Janne Pyykko, 11 volunteers in snowshoes printed a series of complex geometric patterns on a golf course. Together, the designs resemble a huge snowflake.
The artwork, which was completed in two days, measures about 160 meters (525 feet) in diameter. The Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat said it may be the largest snow design ever made in the Nordic country.
“This was a way of developing myself as a human being,” said Pyykko, who is inspired by visual effects and created small illustrations of snow alone, to the newspaper. “I wanted to learn how to inspire people and see if I could mentor them.”
Pyykko says the design is best observed from the air, but he told Finnish media on Wednesday that mapping patterns for snowshoes to follow within a certain area of the Lofkulla golf course required a lot of planning on the ground.
The work was designed to be temporary, lasting only until the next blizzard or strong winds erase the footprints.