Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik wins in Boston

Internationally-acclaimed sand artist, Sudarsan Pattnaik, won the People’s Choice award at the Boston International Sand Art Championship 2019 held at Revere Beach in Boston. Sudarshan, who was the only participant from India, showcased his sand sculpture based on the global issue of plastic pollution. The message ‘Stop plastic pollution, save our ocean’ was inscribed on the sculpture. The art work was appreciated by all visitors who had come to attend the grand festival.

He was among the Top 15 sand artists selected from across the globe, who took part in the Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the sole representative from India and also Asia. “This is a very big award for me and for my country, which is doing a great deal to curb plastic pollution,” said Sudarshan.
His sculpture showed a turtle in a plastic bag and a fish with plastic trash inside. It had its tail inside a human being’s mouth. His work showed how plastic pollution is affecting the ocean and indirectly also the humans since they consume seafood. “People who voted for me and made me a winner echo my concern on plastic pollution and how our activities affect the ocean. They support every effort to stop plastic pollution. This award is for the people. This is a public awareness sculpture,” said Sudarshan while addressing the gathering.

There were several Indian-origin people present at the event and they kept cheering Sudarshan throughout. “It felt great to meet a fellow Odia person, who is a legend in his own right, winning hearts here through his artwork and creating awareness on such a topical issue. This environmental problem concerns every individual in the world. We kept supporting him throughout the event,” said Akshaya Mohanty, an Odia, who is a Non-Resident Indian.
Sudarshan is a well-known environment crusader, who had taken up hunger strike in July, two years ago, to ensure beach cleaning in Puri.