Although sand artists are no more a rarity, they continue to surprise and thrill us with their unique creations that are simply breathtaking. Sample the Hogwarts castle sculpted out of the sand by Leonardo Ugolini, an Italian artist, and you will know that such sand artists are certainly a breed apart.
Ugolini, like any other child, grew up building sandcastles on the beaches. While most children grow out of it, he became so passionate about sand sculptures that he decided to make it his profession. He went on to master the art of sand sculpting and became globally renowned.
For sand sculpting, Ugolini considers the type of sand to be used, the location where the sculpture is to be made, and the weather conditions. And for such works, not any sand would do. It needs to have the right amount of clay and silt in it for sculpting. For him, river sand fits the bill. A sculpture with this sand, made in moderate climate conditions, can last up to four to six months, despite rain and wind.
The sand creations of this graduate from the University of Florence in Firenze, Italy, are incredibly detailed and realistic. He chooses varied themes, inspired by fantasy and fiction and Greek mythology, fairytale, and movie landscapes. His creations can be mammoth, some standing as tall as ten meters (32.8 feet)! Such creations require almost 14 to 30 days to complete.
In addition to the subjects that inspire him, Ugolini has also replicated the famous architecture from around the world, like the Taj Mahal, St. Peter’s Basilica, and even the city of Prague. The latter turned out to be 24 meters (78.7 feet) long and 5 meters (16.4 feet) tall!
Ugolini’s works have gone viral on social media and he has over 60,000 followers on Instagram alone. He has participated in many competitions and events around the world. He has also won many awards for his works, such as the Grand Prize in Canadian Open, Parksville Beach and Grand Prize in the World Championship of Sand Sculpture, Harrington Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada, and many more.
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Leonardo Ugolini
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