To promote sand art among people in the country as well as abroad, internationally-acclaimed sand artist and Padmashree awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik has launched the first national coffee-table book on sand art and sand sculpture entitled Imaginations in Sand.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled the book at the Jayadev Bhavan here on Friday and said the initiative made by the sand artist would encourage sand art enthusiasts across the country, particularly in Odisha, to do well in this discipline.
Sudarsan Pattnaik said the book having 54 pages is a composition of rare photographs and scribbles showcasing various expressions and experimentations in the form sand art over the years. The book contains topics like Celebrating life, Sand for Social Causes, Sporting with Sands, Contours of Power, A Tribute to Nirbhaya, Saluting Talents, A World without Borders, etc.
“Both domestic and foreign tourists visiting various sand workshops are keen to keep some collections of hand copies and photographs on sand arts. This motivated me to take such an initiative,” said Pattnaik, adding that 50 per cent of the sale proceeds of the book on the first day would be contributed to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the victims of the current floods in the State.
like the Sand Art Museum in Japan, steps are afoot to set up a sand art park in Puri which would comprise a photo gallery and an indoor garden along with provision of training to sand art lovers for developing the art in the State, he said.
Among others, Culture Minister Ashok Panda and Tourism Secretary Arabinda Padhee were present during the book release, which saw many other dignataries gracing the occassion.