Metal artist and sculptor, Leo Fujisawa, who organized the art event “Tarumae Arty +” and is positively involved in local and social activities based out of Tomakomai, along with first-class architect, Muneyasu Okazaki, who is originally from Tomakomai but currently based in Tokyo, co-created “Ice Steps – Room of Steps.”

Leo Fujisawa & Muneyasu Okazaki “Ice Steps – Room of Steps”

When people first open the door, it is a little bit difficult to see inside due to a thick wall of ice standing in the way at the entrance. Once you enter, steps of ice are piled up in three dimensional molds on the back of the wall as if the ice was carried in by the strong north wind and drifted in alongside the pier. The outside light coming through an ice pillar pushed outside of the wall draws the beauty of the translucency and the texture of coolness from the ice.

Though an indoor space, it gives the impression of a large Baltic Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk. Overnight guests can enjoy the feeling of drifting in the empty ocean from one floating ice block to another. Upon arriving at their cold ice bed, they can wrap themselves up in a warm sleeping bag and sleep like a seal while enjoying this dream world. There may even be some visitors who will think about the changing global climate where the amount of floating ice has been decreased.

Currently, Leo Fujisawa, has an iron sculpture, “Seed – Rough Sketch,” on display at the Creative Hokkaido exhibition.