New Delhi, February 27 Renowned Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik will showcase "jugaalbandi" paintings – a unique fusion of color and sand on canvas – during the 18th edition of the Contemporary Venice event in Italy.
Five of his works have been officially selected for exhibition at the prestigious international show in Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage city.
"It is a great honor for me as an artist to be selected for this prestigious international biennale. This is my first time exhibiting my paintings at an international exhibition of this scale. It is a very special and emotional moment for me," Pattnaik said on Friday.
Pattnaik said his artistic journey first began with colors, after which he shifted to sand art.
"Now, bringing both color and sand together on canvas gives me immense happiness. Through this, I hope to give a meaningful message to society," he added.
The 18th edition of Contemporary Venice brings together artists from more than 30 countries, including Turkey, Austria, Saudi Arabia, the US, the UK, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Greece, China, Israel, Sri Lanka, and the Czech Republic, among others.
The exhibition, which will be held at the historic Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello among other venues from March 6-20, is being organized by ITSLIQUID Group in collaboration with ACIT Venice - Italian-German Cultural Association.
In this new body of work, Padma Shri awardee Pattnaik creates distinctive paintings on canvas by blending mixed media colors with natural sand. His artworks focus on themes of nature, harmony, and environmental responsibility.
The combination of sand and color symbolizes the union of his artistic journey - returning to his roots in painting while integrating the medium that made him world famous.
Puri-based Pattnaik is a globally recognised Indian sand artist who has won numerous international awards and honors.
His artworks have also been exhibited across India at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and New Delhi, where they received an exceptionally interactive response and were widely appreciated by audiences.
