Sudarsan Pattnaik Wins The Fred Darrington Sand Art Award
Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik is now the only proud recipient of the esteemed Fred Darrington Sand Master Award. It was also his first participation in the contest, which ran from April 5 to 9, 2025. The award honours the contributions of exceptional sand artists. A first in history, he was awarded the prize at the Sand World 2025; an annual international sand art festival in Dorset, England. His piece is on view until November.
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The Sand World 2025 exhibition, hosted at Lodmoor Park celebrates gigantic and detailed sand sculptures by artists worldwide, made solely from sand and water. The Odisha-based artist was presented the award by the Mayor of Weymouth, Jon Orwell. Also in attendance were Mark Andersen (Director, Sand World), David Hicks (Co-founder, Sand World), and Naorem J. Singh (Minister for Culture, Indian High Commission).
Sand Art by Sudarsan Pattnaik at Sand World 2025
At the festival, Sudarsan Pattnaik made a 10-foot-tall sculpture of Lord Ganesha, which tied to the themes of “World Peace”, wisdom, and luck. The vibrant colours in the sculpture, particularly in the crown and accessories, contributed to its beauty.
The year signified the 100th birth anniversary of the iconic British sculptor Fred Darrington, who created his first sand sculpture on Dorset Beach in 1925. Sudarsan Pattnaik received a gold medal embellished with Fred Darrington’s caricature. He also won a glass wave containing sand from his sculpture.
Who is Sudarsan Pattnaik?
Born in 1977 in the coastal town of Puri, Odisha, Sudarsan Pattnaik has been passionate about sand sculpting since he was a child. Since his early adolescence, he has made stunning sculptures. The sand art by Sudarsan Pattnaik revolves around social messages, such as climate change and plastic pollution; or symbols of peace, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.
Courtesy – Mid-day
Sudarsan Pattnaik is a Padma Shri (2014) recipient who has taken part in over 65 international sand art festivals and competitions. Although he has won numerous awards in his career, the Sand World Weymouth Award remains the highest honour to date. In 2024, he won the Golden Sand Master Award in Saint Petersburg, Russia, for creating a 12-foot sculpture of Lord Jagannath. He also made a 100-foot-long Santa Claus sculpture.
Proud India at Sudarsan Pattnaik’s Win at Sand World 2025
As reported by OmmCom News, Sudarsan Pattnaik was “honoured to be the first Indian artist to receive the ‘Fred Darrington’ British Sand Master Award at Sandworld 2025, a prestigious international sand art festival in Weymouth, UK. This recognition is a testament to my 10-foot sand sculpture of Lord Ganesha, symbolising the universal message of World Peace.”
Once the news broke out, Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi praised him for bolstering India’s cultural prominence on the global stage. In a post made on X (formerly Twitter), he conveyed his “Heartiest congratulations to Padma Shri awardee and eminent sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik on being honoured with the first British Sand Master Award, ‘The Fred Darrington.’ His contribution has further enhanced the cultural heritage of our country and state on the global stage.”
Image Courtesy – Times of India
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