The LEGO castle takes shape in white 2024

The jury of the 30th "Shapes in White" snow sculpture competition has reached its verdict in Ischgl: 1st place goes to Simon Morgenthaler and Stefan Zuber from Switzerland with their sculpture "The LEGO Castle". From now on, winter sports enthusiasts in the Silvretta Arena can marvel at eleven LEGO fantasies made of snow up to four metres high.

Ischgl's outdoor LEGO world is open: At the 30th "Shapes in White" snow sculpture competition, ten pairs of international artists shaped their LEGO visions and a given themed sculpture out of Ischgl snow under the motto "LEGO" on and off the piste in perfect weather conditions from 8 to 12 January 2024. You can now marvel at eleven spectacular, unusual creations up to four metres high, such as the LEGO shark under the title "Achtung Hai", the "Express Delivery" driver on a Vespa, heroes like LEGO Batman or the ninja fighters from LEGO Ninjago and even a LEGO castle now stands in the middle of the ski area. After careful consideration, the Ischgl jury chose the sculpture "The LEGO Castle" by Simon Morgenthaler and Stefan Zuber from Switzerland as the winner.

Ice-cold realisation and carved in snow

Eleven spectacular snow sculptures, ten international teams of artists from four countries and only one first place. For the jury in Ischgl, the 30th "Shapes in White" snow sculpture competition was an agonising choice: "Even after 30 years, the snow artists continue to impress us every year. Choosing the best three out of ten from their creative interpretations of themes and masterful realisations was not easy, even with the anniversary theme of LEGO. We are therefore all the more delighted to be able to present all the snow sculptures to our guests live in the ski resort from now on and as NFTs in immortal crypto art from mid-March 2024," says jury member Thomas Köhle, Managing Director of the Paznaun - Ischgl Tourist Board. The jury's verdict on the "Shapes in White" 2024: Simon Morgenthaler and Stefan Zuber from Switzerland were able to gild their LEGO sculpture "The LEGO Castle". Second place went to Ivo Piazza and Reiner Kasslatter from Italy with "Achtung Hai". Bronze went to Thomas Mussner and Stefan Malsiner from Italy with their "And I'm flying, flying...". The eleventh and only predetermined theme sculpture, a LEGO heart called "30 years of moulds in white", was created by last year's first and second place winners Ivan Holzknecht/Armin Rifesser and Ivo Piazza/Damian Piazza from Italy.

The story behind the "Shapes in White"

What are we going to do with all this snow? Art - what else! It was with this idea that the snow sculpture project "Shapes in White" was launched in Ischgl 30 years ago. Since then, sculptors have sent their designs to the jury of the Ischgl snow sculpture competition every year based on a new, pre-announced theme. The jury selects the best entries and invites ten pairs of artists to the Silvretta Arena. The snow artists then have five days to create their masterpieces measuring approx. 5 x 4 x 4 metres out of snow in the 239 piste-kilometre ski area. Thanks to their location at an altitude of over 2,000 metres above sea level for the most part and locations directly next to and on the slopes, the sculptures can be experienced by winter sports enthusiasts for a long time after completion. The event will take place again in January 2025. Further information on the top events can be found at www.ischgl.com.