Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has decided to approach Barack Obama for help in setting up a sand art park to promote global tourism and sand art.
BHUBANESWAR: Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has decided to approach US president-elect Barack Obama for help in setting up a sand art park to promote global tourism and sand art.
Definitely Puri would have been the idle setting for such a park, but the sand artist is angry with the Orissa government for dilly-dallying on handing over a patch of land on the Puri beach for the purpose. He has thus decided to say goodbye to Orissa and move to foreign lands.
“I have approached Obama for help in setting up a sand sculpture park, either in Texas or in California. I sent an email to the White House address on Thursday and received a confirmation. But I am yet to get a reply from Obama about acceptance of my proposal,” he said.
But why did he choose Obama? Well, who else than the most powerful man on earth when it comes to moving things? “He can do a lot... he can easily understand the feelings of an artist,” Pattnaik said, reminding us that he had made a sand sculpture of Obama at the Puri beach during the US election.
Pattnaik believes it would be easier to get funds outside Orissa. “Once I move outside, I will collect funds to buy land on the Puri beach. Later in life I can totally devote my energy to promoting this art and help budding artists,” he said.
Pattnaik has visited over 35 countries and participated in 38 international sand sculpture competitions and festivals. In June, he became the first Indian to get a first prize at the world championship on sand art in Berlin. He also participated in the Houston International Festival-2005. “In the last 20 years, I have been bringing laurels for Orissa. And yet I have been running from pillar to post for a patch of land,” he said.
Dissatisfied with the Naveen Pattnaik government’s attitude, he has also approached the Goa government. “I will write to all chief ministers to translate my dream into a reality,” he said. The Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments have already promised to help him.
Pattnaik set up the Golden Sand Art Institute at Puri in 1995 with just two students. It has now grown to a 35-member team.
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