Brooklyn became the site of a temporary art installation when Belarusian artist Henrik Lojka created a "Snow King" sculpture from a pile of snow. The sculpture, inspired by Lithuanian King Mindaugas, was placed outside the House of the Lord Pentecostal Church on Atlantic Avenue and drew attention from both passersby and social media users, according to the New York Post.
Although the sculpture was temporary due to rising temperatures in New York, around fifty people stopped to observe and interact with it. Some touched the hollow eyes or removed the nose, and a few remarked that the snow figure resembled characters such as Poseidon or Aquaman, drawing connections to popular culture. One man, who wished to remain anonymous, told the New York Post that he saw the sculpture on the WhatIsNewYork Instagram page and was surprised by it.
Lojka, who relocated to the U.S. in 2021, stated through an interpreter that he is motivated to create works that reflect Belarusian history, noting concerns about the decline of the Belarusian language. Prior to moving, Lojka was imprisoned for 20 days after speaking out against Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. He is known for his sand sculptures and public installations that explore Eastern European history and collective memory.
As temperatures rose and rain fell, the Snow King sculpture melted. Photographs and accounts from observers documented the installation during its brief existence. Time Out New York reported that Lojka completed the sculpture in approximately three hours, and it was noted for standing out against the surrounding city infrastructure.
