It was a rare opportunity for the students of architecture courses of different colleges in and around the city to exhibit their talent in sand sculpture contest organised jointly by a group of institutions on the banks of the Cauvery in the city on Sunday.
Models of an alligator by students of RVS KVK School of Architecture, Inamkulathur, for instance, testified to their designing skill.
Led by B. Madhan, they worked on the model for over three hours. “Preparing a sand sculpture on riverbed is more challenging than on a sea shore as the sand here is dry,” says G.S. Charunethra, another student who kept the sand wet by using a water sprayer.
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Sand sculpture attracts people both by virtue of its size and dimension and some message contained in it.
A large number of people and passers-by had a glimpse of the sculptures from atop the bridge.
“The larger the size of the sculpture, the greater is its visual impact,” said a group of students of the school who made a giant model of hand using five truckloads of sand.
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A. Kadhir, team-leader, using a trowel, was seen levelling the sand even while other students were busy in designing.
However, it was the theme and message that mattered most for a couple of teams: while the volunteers of Gramalaya presented a model of leech toilet, students from the Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Institute of Technology from Samayapuram, presented a model on conservation of ecology.
Popular theme
Global warming had been posing a threat to the lives of people and animals. “We have to protect the environment and gift it to posterity,” said students R. Sophiya, A. Nandhini, B. Priyanka, R. Rameshwari, and V.S. Vijayarogini who prepared a model of globe along with the images of endangered species carved on all its sides.
S. Damodaran, Founder Director of Gramalaya, said the leech toilets had been the need of hour in certain taluks such as Thottiyam and the model aimed at protecting the Cauvery from pollution.
V. Janarthanan, Dean of RVS KVK School of Architecture, said this was the first attempt on the banks of the Cauvery to bring out the talent of students and architects in sand sculpting. “There was an overwhelming response. We have planned to make it an annual event,” he added.
Students from Periyar Maniammai University, Cheran School of Architecture, Karur, M.A.M. Polytechnic, Jayendra Matriculation Higher Secondary School, and members of Kalanjiyam, artistes association, participated in the contest.
The organisers had to make special arrangements with a diesel-operated pump for drawing water for wetting the models all through. Prizes were given to winners later in the evening.