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First Indian Wins Russia Sand Art Award
13 Jun
Summary
- Odisha's Sudarsan Pattnaik won the Russia Grand Sand Master Cup.
- He is the first Indian to achieve this prestigious award.
- His winning sculpture addressed the critical theme of global warming.
Sudarsan Pattnaik, a celebrated sand artist from Odisha, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Indian to win the Russia Grand Sand Master Cup 2026. The award was presented at the II International Festival of Sand Sculpture held in Kaliningrad, Russia.
This year's festival, which commenced on June 11, 2026, featured 12 leading international sand sculptors. Pattnaik's winning entry, a striking three-meter-tall sculpture, focused on the urgent theme of global warming, depicting Earth's contrasting states of damage and hope.
Pattnaik's artistic journey began in his childhood on Puri beach, driven by a passion for sand sculpting due to a lack of resources for other art forms. He later established the Sudarsan Sand Art Institute in Puri in 1994.
His remarkable career includes representing India at numerous international festivals and receiving over two dozen global awards. Previously, he was honored with the Padma Shri in 2014 and set a Guinness World Record in 2017 for the world's tallest sand castle.
Expressing his pride, Pattnaik noted the award as recognition for his work on climate change and global warming. He extended his gratitude to the festival organizers, jury, and his supporters.
