The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Master sand sculptor to sculpt Taj in Brussels

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Monday, Feb 18, 2008
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Master sand sculptor to sculpt Taj in Brussels

Shyamhari Chakra

He has been invited to participate in the annual Asia Fair

Sudarsan will use two truck-loads of sand to sculpt it
He has sculpted 37 replicas of it across the globe

BHUBANESWAR: In his recent visit to India, French President Nicolas Sarkozy watched one of the wonders of the world - the Taj Mahal - and said ‘See you again’. But Orissa’s internationally-acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik wishes to say the same at least for one hundred times. Of course through his art.

Promoting ties

The master sculptor, who has the dream to build up the Taj at least at 100 places all over the globe, is thrilled that he has been invited to participate in the 16th edition of the annual Asia Fair in Belgium’s capital city of Brussels on Saturday.

“India is the host country of this fair that aims at promoting socio-cultural and economic ties among the Asian inhabitants of this European nation.

The event is being organised in association with the Embassy of India and the Belgium Chapter of INTACH,” Sudarsan told The Hindu.“I am being assisted by my co-artist Manas Kumar Sahoo. Together we would create the sand Taj using two truck-loads of sand, which will be on view at the Community Centre at De Zandloper in Wemmel,” added the sculptor whose sand Taj had claimed Public Prize in the international sand art championship held at Berlin in Germany earlier.

So far Sudarsan has sculpted 37 replicas of this monument of love in different parts of the world. “My most memorable creation in this series has been the black Taj in Agra during the celebration of the 350th anniversary of the Taj Mahal,” he said. His latest in the series was the Taj that he presented at New York during the “Incredible India at 60” festival recently. The celebrated artist has participated in over 34 international championships.

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