(Image source from: The American Bazaar)

Renowned Indian sand artist Sudharsan Pattnaik will represent India at the International Sand Sculpting Championship 2019 to be held in the Boston city between July 21 and 28.

The Revere Beach, the first public beach in the Boston area, hosts a unique annual competition: sand sculpting. Every year master sand sculptors from around the world gather for the Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival.

As many as 15 sand artists will take part in the championship from around the world, said sources.

The Padma Shri awardee, who hails from Odisha, has left people around the world spell-bound with his mastery over sand art. He has won a number of awards and accolades, including consecutive gold medals in Russia in 2016 and 2017, the Danish grand prize at the International Sand Art Competition in Denmark, and awards from Spain, Canada and many countries around the world.

"I am happy to know that I have been selected to represent India. I got the invitation from the organizer Meredith Corso," said Pattnaik.

Pattnaik attended the 2013 World Sand Sculpting Championship in Atlanta. In 2010, he won three gold medals at the North America Solo Sand Sculpting Competition. His sand recreation of the Taj Mahal in 2005 at the Houston International Sand Art festival is what first got him noticed in the United States.

Pattnaik’s visit is being seen as exciting among the Indian community as they have high hopes he will create something magnificent and meaningful to the cultural ethos of India.

The festival culminates into some of the most mesmerizing sand sculptures built deftly by talented artists who vie for the grand prize. While judges choose the best creation based on details and nuances, the public gets to have their say as well, as there is also a people’s choice award where the audiences get to vote for their favorite sculptor.

By Sowmya Sangam