The joy of creation

The gulmohar tree is in bloom and such beauty instantly grabs the eye and cheers the soul. Life has its way of creating an atmosphere of tranquility in something that is a part of daily life… to see it arising from what one may term as the “ordinary”.  It is one thing for nature to constantly show us her work through the everyday and it is another for a seemingly nondescript person to help us realise the art in that which we could never have imagined.

Sand painting is one such art form that uses a live performance in the precincts of art that also includes elements of animation. The artist sprinkles a layer of sand on a transparent canvas. He then deftly creates and recreates landscapes, symbols, portraits, objects and figures with his hands. In the entire process, movement is constant and the audience is linked to the artist for those breathtaking moments. Each stroke, each movement brings with it the opportunity of something new. There is an emotional bond although silent between the artist and his audience.

The key is to work with a swift pace and use precise and gentle hand strokes. This performance is synced with background music that entwines the artist and the viewer in a timeless moment. Once a design is complete, the artist brushes it away and starts with the next design. The music keeps track and the audience is held spell bound and speechless.

Loong Bee, Chinese sand artist using his hands to create various animations 

In a recent performance on March 29, 2011, Manas Kumar Sahoo, from Orissa, an artist who has mastered the many techniques of this art form, was called upon to showcase his expertise at the Cricket World Cup. He started his animation with the image of the cup and ended it with the image of the Indian team’s captain, M S Dhoni, lifting the cup. The image was wiped out within seconds and the animation ended there. And yet it seemed to have struck a chord in many hearts. A few days later on April 2, 2011 the world watched M S Dhoni lift the world cup to the euphoric cheers of millions of Indians.

A work created by sand artist Manas Kumar Sahoo

The ordinary can have that power – to move a person from within, to make them do things that they only dreamt of and to bring strength through its volatility. The sand animations are ultimately destroyed within seconds of being created but their true power lies in the moments of creation. While the audience watches and the artist concentrates there is a joy that emanates from within. It is the joy of creation and of art in the ordinary.