Odisha’s Sudarsan Pattnaik to participate in sand sculpting world cup in US

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

New Delhi, June 1:

Internationally acclaimed sand sculptor and Padma Shree awardee from Odisha Sudarsan Pattnaik will participate in the World Cup for Sand Sculpting to be held in the United States later this month.

Twenty sand sculptors from across the world will compete in the World Cup to be held in Atlantic City. Participants will be competing in head-to-head singles and doubles competitions at the World Cup.

Pattnaik is the sole participant from India in the Do/AC World Cup to be held between June 15 to June 29, which will see sculptors create artworks by using 10 tons of sand each to win the most lucrative prize in the world of sand sculpting

“I am very happy that I have been invited for this World Cup. This is the first World Cup for sand sculpture. I have participated in many sand sculpture championships and competitions, but this will be very tough for me,” Pattnaik said in a statement today while claiming that he was invited by John Gowdy, the manager of the World Cup of sand sculpting.

Pattnaik has participated in over 50 international championships and festivals around the world and won many prizes for India.

The 37-year-old artist, who runs a school for sand sculpting in Puri, was recently at the Cannes Film festival in France where he had stunned the international glitterati by creating a six-foot tall sculpture of the Taj Mahal, sculpted out of five tonnes of sand.