As a child, he often spent long hours on the golden sands of Puri beach. Little did he know that this childhood passion of building sand castles would one day bring him money and fame.

Internationally acclaimed sand art sculptor Sudarshan Patnaik traces his two decades of practicing this art to this childhood fancy. Recently back home in Puri after bagging another award at the prestigious Berlin international sand art festival, Sudarashan found that a much-awaited dream was about to come true.
Years after he made a request, the state government has finally announced the allotment of a plot for his sand art park in Puri.

All about sand carvings
The excitement in his voice is palpable as he eulogizes on the uniqueness of sand carvings.

“It is not portable, it cannot be sold, and it is very transient in nature, so that’s what sets it apart from other art forms,” he says. Emphasising that it is not a new medium, Sudarshan says that sand art in Puri can be traced to the Jagannath culture.

He makes it a point to depict the chariots and other themes related to the temple during the car festival  and it is a big attraction for devotees who throng the beach. Among the numerous admirers who have appreciated his works are celebrities like cricketer Kapil Dev and Sudha Murthy of Infosys.

In what can be termed as an apt example of ‘art mirrors life’ the sand art creations of his team have always kept pace with current happenings.

Art mirrors life
Whether it was the Asian tsunami, the twin towers bombings, the death of shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan or the cricket World Cup, all of them have been depicted in his exquisite carvings.

The recent bomb blasts in Hyderabad were depicted through a section of the Lumbini Park and the Charminar.
At the Berlin festival, Sudarshan created the Taj Mahal and as an added attraction, carved the profile of Shah Jahan with Mumtaz in his heart.

Besides winning the public appreciation award, the carving also helped the Taj to garner support and be voted as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Social campaigns like AIDS awareness and anti-tobacco campaigns have also found place in his sand carvings.

The Golden Sand Art School founded by Sudarshan has trained a number of artists, including many girls.

Even foreigners, who come as tourists to Puri have at times extended their stay to learn this art. While Sudarshan has developed his own unique style, he has picked up essential tips from sand artists from other countries.

His impressive resume highlights his tour of 34 countries, and participation in more than 30 competitions. Just 30- years-old, and he is a well-known name in the international circuit.

Restoration story
During competitions, Sudarshan is assisted by his team mates, and the camaraderie that prevails is overwhelming. Recalling an experience in Germany, he described a 20-feet carving entitled the sea-king.

After a couple of days, the top of this carving collapsed, and he was at a loss as to how to repair the damage. There were two more days of the festival left and many visitors were expected. Now, there was no way that one could prop a ladder and climb to do the job.

So, his team mates along with other contestants formed a human pyramid for him to climb on it and do the necessary restoration.

“Unlike, the humid conditions in India, the cold climate in Europe is very suitable for sand art creations to last for a longer time, and this sculpture was a big hit with the spectators,” he wistfully recalls.

Future of sand art
About the future of sand art, Sudarshan hopes to build a unique sand art park, perhaps something exclusive like Nek Chand’s rock garden, and also start a kind of gurukul for sand art enthusiasts.

Besides, he also wants to do his bit towards the development of tourism in the state. Last year, he was felicitated by the Ministry of tourism, Govt of India with the most innovative tourism award.

His achievement is noteworthy because Puri beach is the only beach where one can see sand sculptures throughout the year. And Sudarshan is sure to take this art to new heights.