Shifting Sands of Art: A Look at Sudarsan Pattnaik’s Best Work

Sudarsan uses the beach as his canvas, a look at his best sand art creations on his birthday.

Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik with his children at Puri sea beach in Odisha.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@sudarsansand

Sand can be the new medium of communication. It may sound surprising, but to believe it, one needs to look at the work of internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik. All major news and events from across the world find a place in his sand art creations.

A school dropout, Pattnaik, who could not complete his education due to financial constraints, made the Puri sea beach in Odisha his friend. Today, he conveys important social messages from this canvas of sand. Initially ridiculed for trying to create a career out of sand art, this internationally acclaimed artist has won the Padma Shri Award and many gold medals in international sand art championships.

Pattnaik won a gold medal at the 10th Moscow Sand Art Championship for creating a ten feet high sand sculpture of Lord Ganesh, held in April 2017. He had also won a gold medal in Moscow for his sand sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi on world peace in 2016.

In February 2017, he created the world's tallest sand castle on Puri beach in Odisha, which bagged a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

As Pattnaik celebrates his birthday on 15 April, a look at a few of his best sand art creations.

Sudarsan’s tribute to Pulwama terror attack martyr CRPF Jawans. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@sudarsansand

Sudarsan’s sand art on the occasion of the release of  Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman from Pakistan’s custody (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@sudarsansand)

A tribute to the victims of the attack in a Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand in February this year. (Photo Courtesy: @sudarsansand)

An appeal to vote as the country enters into election mode. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@sudarsansand

Sudarsan’s message on World Women’s Day. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@sudarsansand)

Sandart of Konark wheel at International SandArt Exhibition in a sand-museum in Japan.(Twitter/@sudarsansand)

A sand creation of Lord Buddha. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@sudarsansand)

‘Save Water Save Life’- Sudarsan’s call to save water on World Water Day. (Twitter/@sudarsansand)

Sudarsan created a 25 feet high and 50 feet wide World’s tallest sand Santa on Christmas eve in 2017.(Twitter/@sudarsansand)

Sudarsan created the World’s tallest sand castle in February 2017. (Twitter/@sudarsansand)

(This article was originally published on 15 April 2016 and has been republished from The Quint’s archives.)