The crew worked in freezing conditions

"We all have a need to decorate Mother Nature because it belongs to us," Chilean-born Marco Evaristti told the Associated Press news agency.

"This is my iceberg; it belongs to me," Mr Evaristti added.

He used 3,000 litres of paint diluted with sea water, three fire hoses, two icebreakers and a 20-man crew to complete the task in about two hours.

The crew was working on Wednesday in temperatures as cold as -23C, to spray the tip of the iceberg, which was about 900 square metres (1,080 square yards) in size.

The sea water was coloured with the same dye used to highlight meat, the artist said.

Mr Evaristti said he and his crew sailed from the small town of Illullissat and only managed to find the perfect iceberg after zigzagging among slow-moving ice floes for about 30 minutes.

There was no immediate reaction from the local Greenland authorities.

Blending goldfish

Mr Evaristti is well-known for his controversial art shows.

In 2000, his art display in a Danish gallery invited the public to put live goldfish through food blenders.

Visitors were told they could press the "on" button if they wanted. At least one visitor did, killing two goldfish.