July 25: World famous sand sculptor Sudarshan Patnaik from Orissa won International Sand Sculpture championship held in Berlin. A 15 feet high sand replica of ‘Taj Mahal’ won him this year’s prize.
The Taj Mahal replica which took 56 hours in a week will be on display till July 29.
This is not the first time when Sudarshan a resident of Puri represented India in sand sculpture competitions and won. Before this in 2005 too his sand replica of Mahatma Gandhi along with his three monkeys was declared winner in Berlin.
Total 15 artists from 10 countries, Holland, Italy, Russia, Bulgaria, Denmark, and Germany participated in the sand event. India was represented by only Sudarshan.
Till yet Sudarshan has participated in more than 32 international sand events and won various prizes for India including Berlin where he is staying to take part in another sand sculpture festival.
A resident of puri he runs an open art school called Golden Sand Art Institute. He is making sand sculptures on Orissa beach for the last 15 years.
In April he was invited to US to build sand sculpture of the Taj Mahal at the Houston International Festival in Texas.
He has made not only the aesthetic use of his art but also made it a medium to spread awareness about various social, health as well as global issues as peace, Polio, and HIV/AIDS. He also provided relief to tsunami victims in India and contributed to the project of saving Olive Ridley Turtles.
He created a unique balance of art for art’s sake and art with a purpose.
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Comments:
Mani
December 17, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Om Prakash Jagati
October 29, 2007 at 12:00 AMAs an Oriya , I am very much excited and proud of Sudarshan's success. He is perhaps carrying the baton of great Oriya artisans who had once upon a time built unique monuments like Konark Temple, Jagannath Temple and many more.
I will be delighted if I am provided with his residential address so that I could send a letter to him.
Rgds.
Om Prakash Jagati
Bangalore
Mob# 98862 11772
Its a delight to read on sudarshan patnaik because each time that i go through the newspapers its a pleasure to read about Sand marvels.
The people of Orissa and the state in particular suffers from lack of opportunities and since sand is a non replenishable-resource this art form would go a long way in empowering skills among students and scholars,connoiseurs and patrons of art.
I wish to know more on him and his art since we at Incredible india would love to feature an article on His art.
I would be happy to hear from him
Thanks
Regards
Mani