Thai students won first prize and four more awards in the 9th International Collegiate Snow Sculpture Contest which ended on Saturday in Harbin, China.
The winning sculpture was entitled Water–Fish–Paddy Field–Rice.
The sculpture was created by a four-member team from Ubonratchathani Vocational College in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani.
The work was inspired by the late King’s development projects.
It won the Top Grade Award and is Thailand’s eighth successive championship title at the contest which was held on Jan 4-7 and attracted 57 teams from 13 countries.
The team’s entry in the competition was based on the old Thai adage “Nai Nam Mee Pla Nai Na Mee Kao” (there is fish in the waters, rice in the fields) which refers to Thailand’s natural abundance.
It honoured the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s vision to breed and distribute pla nil (Nilotica or Nile River fish) from Japan to Thais 50 years ago to solve nutritional problems among villagers in rural areas, and help agriculturalists and farmers make a living.
The students braved the minus 25 degrees Celsius weather and worked day and night to try to complete the work within the given time.
The work probably probably won because of the unique Lai Thai pattern drawn on the fish and currents of water which adds to their delicacy and beauty.
(Source: Bangkok Post)