Delhi-based Afghan artist Oman Niazi left his hometown of Ghazni in Afghanistan a few years ago for the sake of his art and family.

Global IndianstoryHundreds of miles from home, Afghan artist Oman Niazi can’t stop thinking about the “wrong turn” his country has taken

Indian Artists

Hundreds of miles from home, Afghan artist Oman Niazi can’t stop thinking about the “wrong turn” his country has taken

Written by: Vikram Sharma

(August 25, 2021) For the past few weeks, Oman Niazi, in his tiny flat in Delhi, has been glued to the television watching the developments in his native Afghanistan. His heart sank as the Afghanistan government led by Ashraf Ghani collapsed helplessly, and the Taliban effortlessly took control of the country’s major cities and eventually Kabul. The move sent shockwaves worldwide.

Niazi, who belongs to the Ghazni province in central Afghanistan, around 150 kilometres south of Kabul, left his country with his family a few years back and moved to India. “I feel extremely helpless watching the Taliban coming back to power. People, especially artists there, live a life of fear,” says Niazi, who is in constant touch with the people back home.

Oman Niazi at his gallery in Ghalib ki Haveli; Photo Courtesy: Hanan Zaffar, Outlook

The 52-year-old lived in Afghanistan under the democratically civilian government for many years; yet life was never easy for him as an artist. Niazi paints, writes poems and has a liberal outlook towards life and Ghazni was always volatile with Taliban sympathizers all around. In an exclusive interview Global Indian, Niazi said,

“It was never an easy decision for us to leave our country. But according to the Taliban, my work is haram. If you draw a person’s face, they consider it to be sin. They’d rather kill those who pursue art as a profession.”

In retrospect, he may have just made the right decision to leave Afghanistan, for now with the Taliban takeover he could have been prime target.

After coming to India, Niazi was able to focus on his work better and establish himself. “Life is more peaceful here. With so much violence happening in my country, I always worried about my daughter’s future. I feel more secure here, while I pray every day that my country returns to normal and people live peacefully,” he adds.

Oman Niazi’s art work

Niazi is a unique artist. He uses the process of applying of heat on wheat straw to carve out portraits and landscapes. His innovative artwork focuses on Afghan women and famous Indian historical figures such as Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Today, his work was thriving in Delhi. The artist used to run three art studios around Delhi, one in Mirza Ghalib street in old Delhi and two in Tilak Nagar in West Delhi. But at present, he has none. COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the lives of artists like him.

The situation back home keeps him awake at night, and while he also dreams of going back someday, the recent developments have managed to destroy those dreams. He believes that the situation may only worsen for Afghan artists like him.

“The Taliban has been very clear about its views about art and artists. We have heard some horrifying stories of their intolerance in the past, and we see many more now that they are in power. I only hope that life gets better for everybody.”

So worried is he about what the future holds for Afghanistan that he finds it better to live in India in safe and secure along with his family and shelves the memories of his ancestral home for the time being. “It’s better to lead a peaceful life here than risk our lives,” he smiles.

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Published on 25, Aug 2021

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Ankon Mitra: Redefining space and structure with the art of origami

(September 21, 2024) Trained as an architect, Ankon Mitra has found his calling as an artist, particularly through the ancient Japanese technique of origami. Over the past decade, the 42-year-old has carved a name for his unique art (central to which is the technique of folding) that transform materials as different as paper and concrete into monumental sculptures that redefine spatial dynamics and textures. Recipient of the All-India Gold Medal for Sculpture in 2018 from the Prafulla Dahanukar Foundation, his art has been published in the Victoria and Albert Museum's catalogue of ‘Papercrafts’ published by the Thames and Hudson in 2018. [caption id="attachment_56306" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Ankon Mitra[/caption] Having showcased his work across the world, including the CODA Museum in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, and Arte Laguna, Arsenale de Nord, Venice (2021), the India Pavilion of the London Design Biennale at the Somerset House (2022), and the Shanghai Paper Art Biennale (2023), the artist has transcended boundaries due to the universal nature of his work. He shares with Global Indian, “My work is an extension of my love of nature. From a beehive to the center of a sunflower—everything I do is centered around nature. It is my inspiration and constant muse.”

He shares with Global Indian, “My work is an extension of my love of nature. From a beehive to the center of a sunflower—everything I do is centered around nature. It is my inspiration and constant muse.”

An accidental artist

Born and brought up in Delhi in an artistically inclined family, Ankon never explored the possibility of being an artist. “My mother worked with the Ministry of Defense, while my father was in the steel trade. While we were interested in the artistic side of life, no one in my family pursued it seriously.”

Incidentally, his passion for art stemmed from his interest in landscape architecture, as he confesses that he always loved the clean lines of a well-tended garden. He explains, “I was always interested in math and science, so that gives a great sense of grounding and balance to my art. Because I am artistically inclined as well as technically minded, I can see things uniquely.”

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Folding is intrinsic to Ankon’s art. He started with folding paper, as it made him look at things structurally differently. The interplay of light and shadows in folded structures fascinated him, which led to his initiation into art. His ability to take the fragile, often overlooked medium of paper and transform it into complex, layered structures earned him recognition both in India and internationally.

“When you fold something, a flat structure appears three-dimensional due to the trick of light,” he notes and adds, “Fold is a natural form. We are all made of folds, and through my experiments, I hope to showcase diverse perspectives.”

He experiments not only with paper but with various materials like metal, wood, fabric (from ikat to zardosi), and even concrete, pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms.

A mirage of forms

One of Ankon’s most significant achievements is his contribution to the intersection of art and science, where he applies the principles of origami to solve architectural and engineering problems. His large-scale installations explore eclectic concepts, creating immersive experiences that invite viewers to contemplate the delicate balance between order and chaos.

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In a short period, the artist has made a name for himself. In 2014, when he had his first show (he laughs, saying he did not sell a single work from the exhibition), he introduced the concept of working with different materials to the art world. By 2016, when he had his second show, he had already made his mark and gained confidence, as was seen in stunning installations that included metal folding and using origami techniques to work with fabric.

His latest show, Maps Unfolded, uses historic maps (from traditional Indian pilgrimage maps, printed bazaar maps, and city maps) to create a stunning array of work. One interpretation shows the juxtaposition of the British Map of Jaipur from 1920 and the UNESCO World Heritage Map in 2012. While a folded surface gives a glance of the same localities separated by nearly a century, one can see how time changes borders, populations, and priorities.

He explains, “I want people to view narratives in unexpected ways. As one walks around the maps, different stories emerge from different views. The visual comparison shows how the syntax of the journey of cities and people can change with the passage of time.”

Other installations show the maps of Tibet that explore terrain through folds, while others use the Japanese technique of origami to create objects of startling beauty. Apart from maps, installations traverse the genres of space and nature, a recurring theme in the artist’s work.

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A global artist

The artist proudly states that group effort is core to his output. He works with a team of architects at his studio in Delhi, and given the size and scale of the work he does, collaboration is a key part of his artistic process. Another key aspect of his success lies in the fact that there is a dialogue between the artist and the material (from jute to cane) that shines through. Depending on the medium, he derives the process be it making molds, undercutting the strength of the material or creating distorted shapes.

In little over ten years, the artist has made his mark for his eclectic work without precedence. Ask him why, and the genial artist smiles, “It is because geometry is universal and I layer Indian sensibility throughout my works. The material, the sense of color, and the references are all Indian, while the outlook is international. My work marries global thought with Indian roots.”

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Ankon’s work has been exhibited in prestigious galleries and art fairs across the world, and he continues to inspire with his pioneering approach. What makes his art special is its capacity to evoke wonder—a simple fold in his hands becomes a dynamic, intricate universe that mirrors the complexity of life itself.

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Rupi Kaur: The Indian Canadian breaking taboos with Instagram poetry

(July 31, 9:30 am) "i want to apologize to all women i have called pretty. before i've called them intelligent or brave. i am sorry i made it sound as though something as simple as what you're born with is the most you have to be proud of when your spirit has crushed mountains from now on i will say things like, you are resilient or, you are extraordinary. not because i don't think you're pretty. but because you are so much more than that." That's 28-year-old Rupi Kaur for you. A poet who speaks of love, loss, pain, empowerment, womanhood, abuse, trauma and sexuality like no one else. She encapsulates a tide of emotions in her bite-sized prose and makes people fall in love with every word. Poetry is an art form that truly embodies the 'less is more' philosophy. Just a couple of lines are enough to make you wince in pain or fall in love or feel empowered in union. That's the power of poems, and the Indian Canadian Kaur is a master of it all. View this post on Instagram A post shared by rupi kaur (@rupikaur_) From being someone who couldn't speak

love or feel empowered in union. That's the power of poems, and the Indian Canadian Kaur is a master of it all.

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From being someone who couldn't speak English till the age of 10 to becoming a bestselling poet and author, the Indian-Canadian has come a long way.

From warm India to lonely Canada

Born in Punjab in 1992, Kaur migrated to Canada at the age of three with her parents who had witnessed the 1984 anti-Sikh riots from close quarters. The family settled in Brampton. But adjusting to the new life in the West was hard for a young Kaur as she moved from a "warm place in India" that was full of love to a "place that was cold, rigid and where you couldn't understand anything."

In her words, she felt like an alien in this new country, where she didn't understand the language or the culture. This alienation sort of pushed her into loneliness at a young age. It was her mom who came to her rescue by encouraging her to draw and write as a means of expressing herself fully. With that Kaur started pouring her feelings and emotions on pieces of paper, and poetry almost became a cathartic experience for her.

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The love for poetry

As spirituality and faith form a large part of Sikh culture, Kaur was introduced to poetry in the form of Gurbani and verses of Bulle Shah (a Sufi poet) at a very young age.

"Sikh scripture written in poetic verse is sung when a child is born, it is recited when someone gets married, or when they pass. And so poetry was a part of my everyday life. I learned early on that poetry is how we can explain big ideas in simple ways. There were evenings when my dad would sit around for hours, analyzing a single verse for hours. I was fascinated by how 5 words could have so much meaning. How we could dig deeper and deeper and deeper, and still there were elements left to explore," she told Vogue.

But it wasn't until her seventh grade - when an introverted and bullied Kaur won an essay competition - that she found the courage to stand tall in front of her class. She saw this award as her first step in becoming the person she always wanted to be. It gave her the confidence to write poems, and by the time she was in high school, Kaur had started blogging anonymously. These were baby steps towards her big dream.

At Waterloo University, she chose to major in rhetoric and professional writing. It was here that her writing became more reflective than before and she began performing poetry. However, her poems received a lukewarm response for being too raw or for making people uncomfortable.

Coming out to the world

By 2013, Kaur was ready to put her work out for the world, and that too, under her name, and that's exactly what she did when she made an account on Tumblr, and many of her posts got over 10,000 notes. A year later, she decided to weave art into poetry and moved to Instagram where she began illustrating poems.

The prose that had love, heartbreak, pain, trauma and abuse at their core resonated with millions of people. Kaur gave voice to feelings that many couldn't put into words. It was in her poems that many found solace, and these very words made Kaur an Insta poet at 22.

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In a conversation with HT Brunch, she said,

"The pain that all people experience in life and the light that helps them champion through it all – it’s their lives and their stories and their love and will to keep living that moves me to write."

Her debut book

While she was a star on social media, thanks to her poems, her work was largely being snubbed by publishing houses. In a world where fiction and non-fiction rule the roost, poetry often finds itself in the dusty corners of a bookstore, or so she was told. But Kaur was adamant to put her work out to a larger audience beyond her social media following. And she did that with her self-published debut book Milk and Honey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnyl4GtW4Gs

In a 2013 poem about the 1984 Sikh genocide, she referred to those who lost their husbands and families to violence as 'milk and honey,' and had dreams of using this phrase for her future projects. A year in, she accomplished this with her first book.

As a child growing up in Canada, Kaur never came across a book that reflected the torment and experiences of her community or South Asian diaspora.

"The trauma of South Asian people escapes the confines of our own times. We're not just healing from what's been inflicted onto us as children… it is generations of pain embedded into our souls," she added.

It was the yearning to have access to words written by people who looked liked her that made her realize the importance of representation.

https://twitter.com/LauraLolder/status/1419655691082469376?s=20

A social-media star

While her words had intrigued many, it was the removal of an Instagram photo posted showing menstrual blood - part of a university project on taboo - that catapulted her to fame. The artist slammed Instagram for being misogynistic and fought against censorship.
It was this photo and Kaur's harsh critique of the photo-blogging site that went viral. This made her an overnight Instagram celebrity and her book Milk and Honey was bought by US publisher Andrews McKeel and reissued in October. In no time, over a million copies were sold and it made its way to the New York Times Bestsellers list

2017 was yet another exciting year for Kaur as she released her second book The Sun and Her Flowers, which made her one of BBC's 100 most influential women of 2017.

In the last few years, Kaur's bite-sized poems and affirmations have promoted self-love and personal growth like nothing else. The universal themes of love and loss delivered in its rawness make Kaur stand out among many contemporaries. Undoubtedly, she is the original Insta Poet who made poetry accessible to millions in the easiest way possible.

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Editor's Take

Even the most legendary poets have found it difficult to make a career purely out of their craft, but Indian-Canadian Rupi Kaur is a textbook example of doing it right, and that too, with elan. Known as one of the original Insta poets, she has revolutionized modern-day poetry and prose and made it appealing to millennials like no one else. Her play-it-straight approach to women empowerment, love and pain has helped her garner a cult following in recent times.

ALSO READ: Mindy Kaling: The Indian American actor and producer who truly represents South Asians

Reading Time: 6 mins

Over the Moon: Lakshmi Mohanbabu’s art will adorn ISS, then be relaunched to Earth’s satellite in 2025

(April 24, 2022) On February 19, 2022, the NG-17 Cygnus arrived at the International Space Station, with Indian-origin astronaut Raja Chari taking the lead on the mission. The Cygnus freighter spacecraft went bearing a very unusual load - The Moon Gallery. This is the Moon-Mars Mission 2022-25, an “international, collaborative art installation, housing the seeds of a future, shared interplanetary culture.” On February 18, the test payload carried 64 works of art by 100 artists from around the world. Each work is no bigger than one cubic centimetre. Among this elite group is Lakshmi Mohanbabu, the “first Singaporean artist in space." The Indian-origin artist and architect, who has been based in Singapore since 2001, is holding up what looks like a tiny, orange cube – a replica of the originals that are currently orbiting the Earth from the International Space Station. The intricate, labyrinth of patterns on each side, slowly become clear – these are based on the philosophy of yin and yang, she explains. Created in collaboration with scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, the process began two years ago, Lakshmi says, in an interview with Global Indian. The Moon Gallery will spend 10 months aboard the International Space Station before returning to

hnological University, Singapore, the process began two years ago, Lakshmi says, in an interview with Global Indian. The Moon Gallery will spend 10 months aboard the International Space Station before returning to Earth. By 2025, it will be re-launched to the moon, permanently.

“I had to create an artwork that could withstand conditions in space,” she explains, “There's not much atmosphere, the gravity is lower and there is a huge temperature difference.” When sunlight hits the moon's surface, the temperature rises as high as 127 degrees Celsius (this 'daytime' lasts 14 Earth days). When the sun goes down for a fortnight, the temperature plummets to a bone-chilling minus 173 degrees Celsius.

Preparing for a space odyssey

To start with, Lakshmi contacted the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster, who put her in touch with NTU. In collaboration with two scientists, she was presented with “a bunch of prototypes.” Settling on aluminium, the miniscule works were based on her 'Interactions' series, from her days as a student of design at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi. Each painting has two sides, representing the duality of all things - the positive and negative, yin and yang- and their constant dialogue with each other.

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As a design student, she is fascinated by concepts that could encompass humanity, universal laws and countless symbols. The symbolism, she admits, “can be difficult to understand,” and she often provides detailed explanations alongside - somewhat resonant of the French modern master, Marcel Duchamp. Like him, she describes herself as a thinking artist whose works require explanation.

“The positive cannot exist without the negative,” Lakshmi says. There is no light without darkness. “My design is based on the wave form - the crest and the trough. All energy is transmitted through waves.” The “spiral,” another universal symbol - is the form of human DNA and the shape of our galaxy.

Created through 3D printing, the first cube is bright orange. “It’s about fire, progress and the energy that drives us,” she says. The second cube was made in collaboration with Dr Matteo Seita, assistant professor, School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, NTU who manipulated the orientation of molecules.

Onward to the moon

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The much-anticipated moon landing is only a segment of Lakshmi’s plans. For instance, she is already in talks with NTU to create mega cubes for public spaces in Singapore and the world “As an architect, I feel like it has to occupy all spaces.” As a fashion designer, Lakshmi is “translating it into scarves and shoes, which will be sold in the metaverse. The entire series is available as NFTs on the metaverse. “I have space sounds incorporated into the animation, because it’s based on a piece of art that has actually been in space,” she says. She created a range of carpets, and is working with Singapore’s Moon Festival and its famous “moon cakes.”

Via Singapore to the Moon

Born in Trivandrum, Lakshmi never actually lived in Kerala. Her father was soon transferred to Sikkim, back when it was still a Buddhist kingdom. “There was no religion at home,” Lakshmi recalls. In the late 1970s, the family moved to Afghanistan, where Lakshmi spent the better part of her childhood. “Just before the Soviet invasion,” Lakshmi remarks. “I could hear missiles whizzing overhead - you then get used to things,” says the artist wryly. Her time in Afghanistan was vibrant, and a culturally diverse experience which also highlighted human universality.

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She returned to Manipal University, Karnataka, where she graduated with a degree in architecture, met the man she would marry, then moved to Delhi, working with Rajiv Goel Architects and Benjamin and Benjamin (now Benjamin, Benjamin and Vats). Then, surprisingly, she chose to study fashion design at NIFT, “for all the wrong reasons,” she laughs. Following her sister into NIFT. A degree in fashion design, she worked with renowned designer Tarun Tahiliani, and was part of his first-ever show. She also taught at NIFT till in 2001, Singapore came calling, and she left with her husband.

The art and its muse

Her other major series, Expressions, sits in the same philosophical space as Interactions. These paintings are instantly captivating, vibrant and bold - presenting a suite of human emotions. Again, it is the sense of universality, duality and balance that she sets out to capture. “There is joy and agony, you can't have one without the other,” she smiles, adding, “Today, we interact constantly and travel. You visit a place, pick up something that appeals, but no matter what you do or where you go, you're still you.”

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Delhi to London: How Kamal Singh became the first Indian to make it to a prestigious ballet school

(October 12, 2021) Kamal Singh had never heard of ballet ever until he stepped into the Imperial Fernando Ballet School on a balmy afternoon in 2016. A sweet twist in fate put him in the company of a Bollywood film that changed the trajectory of his life forever, and made him take those steps towards his dream. Then a 17-year-old, whose father was an e-rickshaw driver in Delhi, he was bewitched by the ballet dancers and wanted to try it himself. Five years later, he has become the first Indian to be selected to the English National Ballet school. The 21-year-old, who made it to Forbes 30 Under 30 list, fought not just social stigma but economic hurdles to make his dream come true. Here's the story of this Global Indian who is representing India on a platform that's niche. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=587btgdmIAI How Bollywood gave him wings to fly Born in 2000 in a Sikh family in New Delhi, Singh had a simple childhood. With his dad, Karnail Singh, working as an e-rickshaw driver, the family lived on a meager income. However, despite his humble background, things started to shift for Singh when he saw a Bollywood film that changed his

s dad, Karnail Singh, working as an e-rickshaw driver, the family lived on a meager income. However, despite his humble background, things started to shift for Singh when he saw a Bollywood film that changed his life forever.

Singh was 17 when he watched Remo D'Souza's dance film ABCD: Anybody Can Dance, and the ballet piece stirred something inside this teenager, who couldn't stop thinking about this dance form. Being a Sikh, Singh always broke into Bhangra at every party or wedding. But the fluid elegance of ballet drew him in and he spent the next few days watching ballet videos online. "I wanted to dance, but my parents were not taking me seriously. Then, four years ago, I saw Bollywood movie ABCD and I saw ballet for the first time. It was a turning point," he told BBC in an interview. This new found passion led Singh to Imperial Fernando Ballet Company in Delhi. Founded by Mario Fernando Aguilera, a ballet dancer from Argentina, who starred as a choreographer in ABCD, the center seemed to be the perfect place to start.

However, the dance school's fees were beyond what Singh's means as his dad was already working two jobs to support his family: ballet tuition was a luxury they simply couldn't afford. But seeing Singh's agility and flexibility that he developed over the years by running and stretching in his local park, Aguilera knew that he had discovered an exceptional talent and he wasn't ready to let go off a prodigy like him. He offered him a full scholarship but on one condition — he was to train every day. These rigorous training sessions were no cakewalk and Singh had to give it his 100% to make the cut. "I was training for eight to 10 hours, which was twice what normal ballet dancers do, so my body used to hurt a lot. Often, I would reach home, fall in bed and sleep, too hungry to eat dinner," he told Indian Express.

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Global inning

Over the three years of training, Aguilera provided Singh with free tuition and a room in his home in Delhi. Singh's efforts paid off when he was accepted for a summer program at the historic Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in St Petersburg in 2019 where he was cast as a soloist in a production called Gayaneh. "Till then, I had never travelled outside Delhi. After Russia, I felt the first surge of confidence that I may have a talent and can do well in ballet," he added.

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This confidence nudged him to apply for a Professional Trainee program at London's English National Ballet School. His watershed moment arrived when he was accepted to the prestigious ballet school, making him the first Indian ever to achieve the feat. Being one among a pool of 10 talents selected from around the world, Singh had a moment of pride. But the course's hefty price tag did play a spoiler.

Crowdfunding made his dream come true

A year-long course at the ballet school costs £8000, and Singh had to turn to crowdfunding to pay for his fees and other expenses. Fortunately, he found support from actor Kunal Kapoor, who is also the co-founder of Ketto, the crowdfunding platform. The actor used his star power and social media to spread the word on behalf of the young dancer. This prompted Hrithik Roshan to pledge £3200 to the fund. Within few weeks, his fund reached £18000.

Kamal Singh is a 20-year old ballet dancer from Vikaspuri, Delhi who discovered ballet just 4 years back. He comes from a very humble background, his father is an e-rickshaw driver and he attended the local government boys school.. contd pic.twitter.com/L4tTAQB2CY

— Kunal Kapoor (@kapoorkkunal) September 16, 2020

"I have received a lot of support from the Indian community. My maestro has a lot of new students who want to study ballet, after seeing my news. They really got inspired. I am hoping with my achievements, more people in India will choose ballet as a career," he added.

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Singh is now in London completing what can be called the last level of training that he has to finish before becoming a professional dancer. The 21-year-old is happy to take the leap of faith and follow his dreams and represent India on global platform. "My parents, like all Indian parents, wanted me to get a conventional job like an engineer or a doctor and get settled. To be a dancer is risky. But now, they couldn't be happier to see their son going ahead and pursuing his dreams of representing India- and the Sikh community - on the global ballet stage," he told Vice.

Reading Time: 5 min

Sudarsan Pattnaik: How a school dropout became a world-renowned sand artist

(October 13, 2021) "The beach was my canvas and my fingers, the brush. Water gave shape to my sculpture and the only color needed was that of sand," said Bhubaneswar-based sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik, echoing his sentiment towards his art. Something he has been dedicated to for the last four decades. Infusing a sort of life into sand is no easy feat but Pattnaik is the master of this art form. The Padma Shri-awardee has been enchanting the world with his body for years now, and every other day, a new surprise springs up on the beaches of the world, courtesy Pattnaik. While his beautiful art has found an audience across the globe, this 44-year-old had to fight a long battle to get fame and recognition. A school drop out, who worked at a neighbor's house to make meets end, loved making sand sculptures. This love soon translated into passion and made him one of the biggest names in India and abroad. Here's the inspiring journey of this Global Indian who persevered to make a mark in the world. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sudarsan pattnaik (@sudarsansand) How beach became his canvas Born in

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How beach became his canvas

Born in a poor family in 1977 in Puri, Pattnaik was quite creative from a tender age. But the financial struggles for this then young boy were so real that he couldn't afford to buy material for painting as he lived on the ₹200 that his grandfather received as pension. To make ends meet, he would work at his neighbor's home. Between the tiresome chores, he would often go to the beach and use it as his canvas. "I loved playing with the sand, which gradually turned into a passion. Sand art came to me naturally and no one taught me how to do it. I learnt as I struggled. I started at the age of 7 and here I am painting my imagination in the nature," he told OneIndia in an interview.

His sand sculptures caught people's attention, and this inspired him to continue creating magic with sand, despite the art being rather uncommon at the time. Pattnaik, who studied till class six, had to drop out of school due to financial constraints. But this detour led him towards sand sculpting, something that was set to take him to his destiny. However, being a sand artist was equally challenging because most people considered it to be temporary art. Regardless, Pattnaik persevered and is happy that it shaped him as an artist and an individual. During the process, he picked up various languages as he often met many foreign tourists who visited the Puri beach and they helped him diversify his vocabulary. "I did not know English, but God granted me a gift. Since I used to work on the beaches where people from various countries came, I picked up several languages from there. When I started participating in various national and international competitions, I had to communicate and there I picked up a few more languages," he added.

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An art form unheard of

When Pattnaik began doing sand art in the 90s, not many understood him or his art. It took many years for people to finally recognize his talent and appreciate his work. "For about 16 years, I worked hard to make sand sculpting popular because this was an art form that was hardly known in those days. People only thought of sand sculptures as art forms that could be easily destroyed," he told Parent Circle.

Pattnaik was convinced that sand sculpting could be at par with other arts so in 1991 he started Sudarsan Sand Art Institute in Puri where he teaches children this art form.

Global journey

Things started to look up for him when he received his first international invitation. However, his financial condition often played spoilsport which ultimately led to his visa being rejected. Eventually with support from the Indian government, his first international trip happened in 1998 when he exhibited his work during the World Travel Market in London. This was the beginning of a new innings for him. Soon he was travelling to countries like France, China, Singapore and Denmark to participate in championships. In 2001, he won the third prize in World's Master Sand Sculpture's Championship in Italy and soon started picking up trophies at various international festivals.

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If he was winning accolades abroad, back home too, Pattnaik had become a star. In 2004, he won the National Youth Award and the very next year, he picked up the National Tourism Award. In 2009, he was named the People of the Year by Limca Book. Not just this, former President of India, Pratibha Patel felicitated him on her visit to Puri. These laurels were a testimony to the growing popularity of his art. While Pattnaik had become a popular name, he went a step further and scripted history when he set a Guinness World Record for creating World's Tallest Sand Castle in 2012.

In the last two decades, Pattnaik has represented India in over 60 sand sculpture championships across the globe. If he won People's Choice Prize in Bulgaria in 2016, he won a gold medal in Russia in 2017. But one of his biggest moments came in 2019 when he became the first Indian to win the Italian Golden Sand Art Award for his teen-feet high sand sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi.

[caption id="attachment_13061" align="aligncenter" width="655"] Sudarsan Pattnaik won Italian Golden Sand Art Award in 2019.[/caption]

The reason that Pattnaik's world has found a fan following across the globe is that his work highlights social issues. "People easily connect with my sculptures. Most of my art forms are about social issues like social degradation and evils in the society. I believe that these issues should be discussed in today's world and putting it out artistically will draw a lot of people's attention," he told The Citizen.

When Pattnaik started sand sculpting, it looked like a far-fetched dream but the 44-year-old transformed his dream into a reality with his hard work and determination.

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