When you consider the fact that few people can even build structurally sound sandcastles (myself included), it’s easy to see just why sand art is such an impressive medium. It’s even more fascinating when you consider that all the time and effort put into the pieces will only last a short period of time anyway.
These particular sand sculptures are actually inspired depictions of the circles of hell, as presented in Dante’s Inferno. The sculptures were created in Italy by a team of 18 of the world’s greatest sand sculpture artists. The result, as you can see in this Flickr stream by user Htmarcos, is simply breathtaking.
Comments (8)
Comment
- subscribe /
- give a gift /
- terms of service /
- about /
- contact us /
- write for us /
- ad info /
- subscriber services /
- press /
- privacy policy /
- rss /
© 2012 Mental Floss Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mental Floss is a registered trademark owned by Felix Dennis. mentalfloss.com is a trademark owned by Felix Dennis.
Disclaimer: All submissions made to mental_floss become the property of Mental Floss Inc and may be used without further permission by the submitter and without compensation to the submitter. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not submit anything to mental_floss.
That is simply amazing.
posted by Heather on 2-24-2010 at 2:43 pm
Never thought a trip to the beach could be so hellish! LOL
posted by Marty on 2-24-2010 at 3:57 pm
Those Italians would obviously love the new Dante’s Inferno video game.
posted by Cole on 2-24-2010 at 4:01 pm
Now if only we could save stuff like that and put it in a gallery somewhere. That kinde of craftmanship is rare!
posted by Kate in Italy on 2-24-2010 at 4:05 pm
I have a friend who does this for a living – their tools range from a bulldozer to a straw to a needle. There is a spray they use to protect them from the wind, but most are too detailed and fragile to keep permanently.
Something even more amazing are some of the sculptures at the annual Sapporo Snow Festival. Some are huge, some are animated. Some have an internal wood lattice, but otherwise they’re all snow and ice and are as detailed as the sand sculptures – just 2 or 3 (or more) stories tall, with steps and sliding boards and moving parts.
posted by PartiallyDeflected on 2-24-2010 at 7:28 pm
Partially, it’s funny you mention that, I was actually thinking about posting about the snow festival.
posted by Jill H on 2-24-2010 at 7:37 pm
That beats the hell out of the sand sculpture that I saw of the “Three’s Company” couch. Come to think of it, that could be any couch.
Damnit! I paid $40 for nothing!
posted by Victor @ I Complain Therefore I Am on 2-24-2010 at 7:58 pm
This is way better than that video game loosely inspired by Dante’s Inferno. Obviously, when it comes to bastardizing literature into video game form, nothing is safe.
posted by Joel on 2-25-2010 at 8:28 am