Interview with Oliver Höner and Romero Britto on the occasion of Art on Ice, held at the Efficiency Club in Zurich.

Friedrich Kisters: What does “organize” mean for you and what is special this year?

Oliver: Organize to me is Art, as well. Organizing looks like something logical, but never is. Imagine you have artists who are singers, dancers, skaters, acrobats – they all come from different worlds, but they match, they integrate in the show. And this year Romero is part of the story, too. It makes it really important we touch on Art, besides music and skating. I think it is really cool that we have this extra level in the 30th anniversary of “Art-on-Ice”.

Romero: I can’t wait to see the choreography on it! It is gonna be spectacular! I always loved ice-skating. Of course, I did nothing like you, Oliver, did yourself, and the many athletes do. What I saw is incredible. I can’t wait to see more of it and think it will be really beautiful.

Oliver: Romero, when I came to the Britto Palace, which is a huge space, I was just like, oh my god, that’s something else! Then you showed me that one of your first sculptures was an ice-skater!

Romero: Yes, one of my first sculptures was an ice-skater. I made it for a private residence years and years ago. A beautiful piece, yes, and now I am thrilled to work with you.

Friedrich: Only a few people know that another famous artist, Leonardo, was a great event organizer.

Romero: So, an event is legitimate Art.

Friedrich: Absolutely. In 1490, Leonardo designed a spectacular sky and star spectacle with torchbearers on a movable wooden sky structure for a wedding celebration in Milan. It was a milestone in theatre and festival architecture, an early precursor to modern lighting and stage productions in which mechanics and science merged with art and harmony. In fact, it was a precursor to Art-on-Ice. It formed people. Sport also forms people.

How did the idea to combine sport with Art come about?

Oliver: I believe there are not many sports that can connect directly with Art. Figure skating has that ability. It excellently connects to music. It’s not only a sport but also a show, even in a competition. You have to give choreography to the people, not just pure athleticism, even though the athletic level is super high. It is incredible what they do. Music is a part of it. But it has never been used as live music. The live music gives so much more. You get the energy from the performer, and the performer gets the energy back from the skater. It is like a collaboration of emotions.

Friedrich: Emotions forge your Art. You bring them to sports, to performances, but also to hospitals. Please tell us more about it, Romero.

Romero: Over the years, I have completed many projects with hospitals. The first was St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I wish I could do more. Health, children’s welfare, and community wellbeing are so important. I want to bring the children positivity and hope. I do my art and then, you know, I do my philanthropy. It is not easy, because of time, but I definitely think it is a beautiful thing.
In 2024, Ken Griffin gave the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami 50 million dollars, and I contributed a custom work of art to them in November 2025 to spread a message of love and hope to cancer patients. There is solid, scientific evidence behind the healing power of art.

Friedrich: It is amazing how you spread positivity to everyone, from the bottom of your heart. I can’t think of any artist expressing positivity in such a holistic way. It seems pretty unique.

Romero: I am so thrilled to be here in Switzerland to talk about Art-on-Ice, and I think this will definitely inspire so many families. Celebrating life, culture, humanity, music, sports, and art all together in one show with Art-on-Ice will be amazing.

Friedrich: Impressive, thank you. I think you should become a professor and teach young people about the importance of positivity in life and art. If you were a professor at a university, what would your first message be?

Romero: My first message would be to keep dreaming. It is really important not only for young people, but for anybody. Continue dreaming. If you keep dreaming, it doesn’t matter how old you are. When you think about Warren Buffett, he became a billionaire when he was sixty. Not when he was forty. But he is an extraordinary person and just kept dreaming. If he stopped doing what he loved doing, he wouldn’t get there. Now he cares for others and gives so much away in charity. So, my message is: Keep dreaming and keep very disciplined. Like an athlete. An athlete who doesn’t have discipline will find it very difficult to have a beautiful performance. You have to practice every day, behind the scenes, not only when you are in front of people. Nobody is seeing that.

Friedrich: That’s why you did your documentary. Everybody can see what it took you to become successful, how you simplify everything into harmony and love, as clean emotions. Oliver, as an organizer, are you helping art to spread its message?

Oliver: Yes, of course. You reach out to a multitude of people.

Romero: You are the amplifier.

Friedrich: Is there a moment after the show, where you say: I did well?

Oliver: Yes, you have these special moments during the tour, after the première, when everything comes together, and anything can happen. After that, you feel a big relief and say, “ok, the show works, the audience likes it”. And you have this moment, when a whole arena is standing up to give you the applause. They are giving it for the performers, that’s clear, but I am also a bit part of it. I created the whole thing, and this is not money; it’s that moment where the whole arena is going mad, because they love it so much. And this is when I start thinking: “What do I do next?” It is immediately jumping upon me. Immediately!

Friedrich: You both may be very similar in this – you both create. Is there a similarity?

Romero: Yes, of course, I love to see a finished artwork. Even when I start, I want to already see it finished. See it on the wall. Best is to see it exhibited, not only finished. See how it performs in the new environment, a museum, or a collection. That is so great!

Friedrich: In our last Seazen event with about 100 VIP guests, it was amazing to see their reaction to your art, Romero. They loved it and were very curious to learn about its stylistic importance, in addition to its beauty. You are a totally reliable artist, like a reliable sportsman.

Oliver: Yes, reliability ties us together. Don’t miss the show – it will be spectacular!