Sudarsan Pattnaik selected for world championship in Taiwan

Odisha-based artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has been selected to represent India at the world sand sculpting championship to be held at New Taipei City in Taiwan April 25-May 2, the artist said Sunday.

Ten sculptors from around the world including Pattnaik will represent their countries to compete this year's championship.

Artists from nine other countries include the US, Ireland, Canada, Russia, the Netherlands, Spain, the Czech Republic and Togo are participating in the competition, Pattnaik told IANS from his hometown of Puri, 56 km from here.

Pattnaik said he would carve a four-metre high sculpture on climate change and it would take eight days to create the sculpture.

"As you know our world is getting affected from global warming, so I have decided to spread message about climate change through my sand sculpture," he said.

Pattnaik has been conferred with the Padma Shri this year, the fourth highest civilian award in India.

He has participated in more than 50 international sand sculpture championships and festivals across the world and has won many prizes.