Sand artist Sudarshan wins Copenhagen award

Bhubaneswar: Internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has won the Public Prize at Copenhagen International Sand Sculpture Championship and Festival-2012 held in Denmark.The prize was declared on Tuesday by festival director Inge Faerch, who informed and congratulated Patnaik about the honour.During the festival held since May 31, visitors cast 80,000 votes for different sculptures.Sudarsan’s sculpture 20 feet-high “Save the Ocean” bagged 23,000 votes and won the prize. Sudarsan had been declared the winner of the championship on May 31 itself.[caption id="attachment_444553" align="alignleft" width="380"] Sudarshan Pattnaik with one of his creations.[/caption]He said nine artists including him took part in the championship from Canada, Russia, Bulgaria, Ireland, England, Germany, Ukraine, and Ghana.The sculptures were made from May 24 to May 31 and then the festival was opened for the public, he said adding it will continue till September 9."I am very happy that my sculpture won two prestigious prizes in the international festival," he said. Patnaik has been doing sand art for last more than 20 years at the beach in Puri.So far he has participated in more than 50 sand art championships and festivals and won many prizes for the country.PTI