Almost 30 years ago, sand art was an alien concept in India, but that didn't stop 7 year old Sudarsan from spending hours on the beach creating beautiful sand sculptures. Little did he know that he would grow up to be one of the most renowned sand artists worldwide.

He had no idea that people take years of training to master this art form, all he had was a God gifted talent and his creative ideas. Born in one of the most beautiful cities in India: Puri, Sudarsan has his name listed in world records for sculpting the largest Santa Claus measuring nearly 100 feet long.

This is just one of the many acclaims won by Sudarsan, other than uncountable championships to his name. Sudarsan's art is much more than merely sculpting sand on beaches, his art is about awareness and a better world. He has built massive and beautiful sculptures about AIDS awareness, global warming, nuclear war, swine flu awareness, saving turtles and many more.  He created a 15 feet high sculpture of Hindu God, Ganesha, to spread awareness about potential dangers of global warming. He depicted Lord Ganesha traveling on a boat that was sailing on water coming from melting glaciers in the Himalayas. He also keeps up to date with historical events all over the world, and pays tribute in his own style.

































Currently, Sudarsan is busy with The Sand Art festival taking place in Orissa, India, hosted by the US government in association with Odisha tourism department. A festival where artists from all over the world are participating, including the famous 3D street artist, Tracy Lee Stum. In this festival Sudarsan wants to raise awareness about protection of dolphins and turtles. Therefore, he will attempt to make hundreds of turtles and dolphins, which will perhaps make another record.

Sudarsan is also on a mission to change a common perception that "the sand art is a temporary form of art" for which he travels all over the world demonstrating his work and taking workshops. As a child he had no guidance whatsoever to make him what he is today, but he does not want thousands of aspiring and talented artists to miss out on opportunities just because they didn't have the right platform. Therefore, he decided to share his talent, knowledge, experience by establishing "The Golden Sand Art Institute" in India.




















































There may be many sand artists all over the world, but just a handful who have gradually polished the talent within them...on their own. And even fewer, who have dedicated their art for a better world. We wish Sudarsan Pattanaik the very best for the upcoming Sand Art Festival.

Visit his website 'sandartindia.com' to learn more about this inspiring artist and his breathtaking artwork.


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