Sand represents life – here today, gone tomorrow : Sudarsan Pattnaik

Mumbai | September 29, 2016 : Internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik will create yet another master-piece in sand at Mumbai’s Juhu beach on October 1, to conclude the Nirmal Sagar Tat Ahiyaan or the clean coastline campaign in Maharashtra.  Mr. Pattnaik, sharing his experiences in sand art on the sidelines of the premiere of a short documentary ‘Sand Says Something’ in Films Division complex in Mumbai today, said he has always drawn inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi, be it for spreading the message of world peace or the Swachch Bharat concept.

Mr Pattnaik, who paid tribute to Lata Mangeshkar on her birthday by creating a sand sculpture in Ratnagari two days ago, has been travelling the Konkan coastline as the brand ambassador of the Maharashtra Maritime Board’s Nirmal Sagar Tat abhiyaan. “Maharashtra’s coastline is so beautiful with many picturesque beaches. By creating sand sculptures on these beaches, i am trying to send a message, that there is so much art in these sands and it is important to keep it clean always”.  He also involved a number of schoolchildren in his awareness campaign.

His campaign began with the clean up act at Versova on September 18 and will conclude on October 2. The main objective of the campaign is to make state’s beach fronts clean, less polluted and more tourist friendly.  Pattnaik said other states, including his home state Odisha should initiate such campaigns to create awareness about keeping beaches clean.

Putting the hardships of childhood behind him, Sudarsan Pattnaik has carved a niche for himself in the field of sand art and won many national and international awards. Earlier this year, he won the Gold Medal at the International Sand Art competition held in Moscow for his sand sculpture on world peace. “When I began, i received a lot of appreciation from people, but many people opined, If I want to make a good career I must make my sculptures in stone or clay. But my heart lay in sand. In fact, I always held a view that sand represents our life itself –here today, gone tomorrow”.

Mr.Pattnaik has sculpted many masterpieces in sand, often picking contemporary themes, which he says helps art to connect better with common people.  His sand sculptures paying tribute to Uri martyrs, Mother Teresa’s saint hood, Swachch Bharat etc. won wide acclaim. The sand sculpture of Santa Claus, built during Christmas last year entered the Limca Book of Records as the tallest sand sculpture build in India.  Mr. Pattnaik has been commissioned to create a special sand sculpture in Goa for the BRICS Summit 2016, representing the member nations.

Mr. Pattnaik also runs the Sudarsan Sand Art Institute in Puri, where 35-40 students are learning the craft from the master craftsman.

The Films Division’s short documentary ‘Sand Says Something’ directed by Manoranjan Badatya, traces the life and work of Sudharshn Pattnaik, through interviews and stunning visuals of his sand sculptures.