Weymouth, April 5
Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has been awarded "The Fred Darrington" in the United Kingdom for his contributions to the art form.
The first British Sand Master Award was presented during the Sandworld 2025 International Sand Art Festival held in Weymouth.
To mark the occasion, Pattnaik created a 10-foot-high sand sculpture of Lord Ganesha with the message "World Peace."
This year's festival saw participation from several international sand artists, who showcased a wide range of intricate and creative sculptures. The event also commemorated the 100th birth anniversary of legendary sand sculptor Fred Darrington from Weymouth, after whom the award is named.
The award and medal were presented to Pattnaik by the Mayor of Weymouth, Jon Orell. Director of Sandworld, Mark Andersen, and co-founder David Hicks, were also present at the ceremony. Naorem J Singh, Minister (TNC and Culture) at the Indian High Commission in London, attended the event as well.
Organisers noted that this was the first time the award had been presented to an Indian artist.
Pattnaik, a Padma Shri awardee, has participated in over 65 international sand sculpture championships and festivals worldwide, earning numerous accolades for his work.
On this occasion, Pattnaik said, "Big day for me to get the award in 2025. As an artist, for me it is very big. I dedicate this to all my fans and those who encouraged me."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Wow, Sudarsan's work is absolutely breathtaking! That Ganesha sculpture must have been incredible to see in person. So proud to see Indian artists getting global recognition ðŸ‘
I was at Sandworld this year and Pattnaik's sculpture was definitely the highlight. The detail was insane - you could see every ornament on Ganesha! The award is well deserved.
As an art student, Sudarsan Pattnaik has been my inspiration for years. His ability to convey such powerful messages through temporary art is truly remarkable. More power to him! â¤ï¸
While I admire Pattnaik's work, I wonder if the award could have gone to a lesser-known artist this time. There are so many talented sand artists who don't get this level of recognition.
The combination of traditional Indian iconography with the "World Peace" message is so powerful. Art truly transcends boundaries. Congratulations to Sudarsan!
Sandworld is always amazing, but this year was extra special with the Darrington anniversary and Pattnaik's award. Makes me proud to be from Weymouth!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.