ALAPPUZHA:The mighty beach of Alappuzha has spread out its canvas to sand artists across the world who are here to compete in the first sand art festival organised by the Sand Art Festival Alappuzha Foundation, the Kerala Tourism Department and the District Tourism Promotion Council.
Beachgoers and art lovers alike are gathering around the master artists who are in groups of 10 both from within and outside the country busy sculpting massive structures in mounds of finely sifted sand. Kimmo Frosti, a sand artist from Finland, is fascinated by the beauty of backwaters of Alappuzha and the beach. “If the organisers invite me, next year also I will be attending the festival,” he said. Frosti is known for his sculptures in ice, snow and sand. He runs an annual sand art festival in Finland named ‘Hiakkalinnai’, meaning sand castle in which over 2,500 artists participate.
To Iryna Kalyuzhma from Ukraine who specialises in sand and clay, Kerala, especially Alappuzha blessed with its natural beauty, is the ideal locale for such an event.
Iryana who had participated in sand art festivals in Germany, Switzerland and USA is basically an artist. Another eight groups from the state and outside are also participating in the competition.
Ranjan Kumar Ganguli, a photojournalist from Odisha, is also involved in the event. He has participated in many international sand art events. He constructed the sand statue of ganapathi. “The sand festival in Jaganath Puri drew me into this art form, Ganguli said, who was earlier into clay sculpting.
“The sand art festival in Alappuzha will popularize the beach and the locality, he said. A team of artists from RLV College Tripunithura including Ayyappadas I R, Midhun M P, Anoop P G, Rakesh K V and Sarath Kumar R is in the final stages of their work.
Renjish Gopan from Chengannur, Suresh P from Kanyakumari, Sudheendhra Das, Sreejith, Silpa T K, Shan K R, and Sajeesh K team from Thrissur Government Fine Arts college are also busy giving final touches to the sculpture.