Sudarshan Pattanaik is an Indian sand artist from Puri, Odisha. He is known for his large-scale sand sculptures that are often used to raise awareness about social and environmental issues.
Pattanaik was born in a poor family in Puri in 1977. He began sculpting images in sand at the age of seven, and he quickly developed a talent for the art form. In 1998, he won his first international sand sculpture competition in the United States.
Since then, Pattanaik has won numerous awards for his sand sculptures, including the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest sandcastle in 2017. He has also represented India at over 50 international sand sculpture competitions, and his work has been featured in exhibitions around the world.
Pattanaik’s sand sculptures are often used to raise awareness about social and environmental issues. He has created sculptures on a variety of topics, including climate change, poverty, and human rights. His work has been praised for its beauty, creativity, and social impact.
In 2014, Pattanaik was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, for his contributions to art. He is a role model for young artists around the world, and his work has inspired people to use art to make a difference in the world.
Some of Pattanaik’s most famous sand sculptures include:
- A 48-foot-tall sandcastle, which he built in Puri in 2017.
- A sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi, which he built in Ahmedabad in 2018.
- A sculpture of the Taj Mahal, which he built in Dubai in 2019.
- A sculpture of the Earth, which he built in New York City in 2020.
- A sculpture of the COVID-19 pandemic, which he built in Puri in 2021.
Pattanaik is a true master of sand art, and his work is a testament to the power of art to inspire and connect people.