Winter Stations returning to Toronto with distorted views through giant ice lenses

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The highly-anticipated Winter Stations is returning to Toronto this February, bringing its popular winter art installations back to Woodbine Beach.

A trip to the beach might not be on anyone's to-do list in the dead of winter. Still, this annual event continually draws crowds bundled up in parkas, toques, and boots for an unmissable art exhibition along the cusp of Lake Ontario.

Now in its 12th year, Winter Stations brings art from international artists to the city, showcasing five phenomenal installations inspired by a single theme. This year's theme, Mirage, invites artists to explore "what is seen and what is real in the age of AI," as explained in the event's latest press release.

After receiving thousands of submissions, Winter Stations selected five winning proposals to form the curated exhibit at Woodbine Beach.

Among the selected works, Toronto makes its mark once again with Glaciate, a winning entry created by students and professors from Toronto Metropolitan University in collaboration with Ming Chuan University.

Glaciate, by students and faculty supervisors at Toronto Metropolitan University, in collaboration with Ming Chuan University, Canada.

The installation takes the form of a corridor made from tall plastic panels filled with water from a nearby lake, which freezes into ice. As the water freezes and thaws, the panels shift between clear, cloudy, and opaque. From the outside, a red lifeguard chair is never fully revealed, appearing only in flashes of red. From within, the surrounding beach dissolves into a mirage.

Another Canadian winner, Crest, was designed by students at the University of Waterloo. From afar, the installation looks like a simple pile of driftwood. But as visitors draw closer, it gradually takes the shape of a wave. Its layered plywood structure creates an optical illusion, where elements seem to appear and vanish with movement, seamlessly blending into the surrounding landscape.

Crest, by the students at the University of Waterloo, Canada.

A Canadian art director and 3D artist from Saskatchewan will also present an installation at Winter Station, Embrace, created in collaboration with Northcrest Developments. The piece mimics a hug, evoking the warmth many crave during the cold winter months.

Embrace, by Will Cuthbert, Canada.

Visitors can also experience SPECULARIA by Andrew Clark (United States), as well as CHIMERA by artists Denys Horodnyak (Ukraine) and Enzo Zak Lux (Germany).