Srikantadatta etched in sand

Sculpture to welcome visitors to Gangotri Glades

August 26, 2014 11:12 pm | Updated 11:12 pm IST - MYSORE

Artist Gowri M.N. giving shape to the nine-ft tall sculpture, which was created using three truckloads of sand.

Artist Gowri M.N. giving shape to the nine-ft tall sculpture, which was created using three truckloads of sand.

A sand sculpture of the late scion of the Mysore royal family Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, seated on the throne, has been carved at the entrance of the Gangotri Glades Cricket Ground, on the Manasagangotri campus, as a mark of respect.

The stadium will host the first leg of the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) 2014 from August 28 to September 3.

The KPL 2014 has been dedicated to Wadiyar.

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has proposed renaming the stadium after Wadiyar, who served as its president and died while holding the post in December last.

The KSCA felt it would be fitting to have a sand sculpture of the late scion at the venue.

Sand artist Gowri M.N., who created a sand sculpture of Wadiyar during Dasara at her sand museum on Chamundi Hill Road here, was approached for the job.

“I had gone to invite KSCA secretary Brijesh Patel to my museum. On seeing the photographs of my sand art, he asked me if I could sculpt a statue of Wadiyar. I agreed and here I am working on the sculpture,” Ms. Gowri told The Hindu .

Ms. Gowri, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) graduate, has been working on the sculpture for the past four days.

“I am using three truckloads of sand to create the 10-ft wide and nine-ft tall figure. The sculpture at the stadium is almost similar to the one at the museum, except that Wadiyar is seated on a chair instead of a throne,” she explained. She said the sculpture had turned out really well.

“I am pleased that I am contributing something as a mark of respect to Wadiyar.”

The sculpture is likely to be unveiled on August 30 as the stadium is expected to be renamed after Wadiyar, who was instrumental in launching the KPL.

Ms. Gowri added, “If properly protected and maintained, the sculpture can last a long time.”

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