Bhubaneswar, April 15 (IANS) Orissa-based artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has been selected to represent India at the third world sand sculpture championship to be held in Moscow May 4-11.

 
 "The theme of the sculpture is masterpieces of Italian art," Pattnaik told IANS over phone from Puri, 56 km from here.
 
 Artists from nine other countries -- Russia, Italy, Iceland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Holland, Ukraine, Belgium, and Spain -- are participating in the competition, he added.
 
 "I received the official invitation today (Friday) from the chairman of the selection committee," he said.
 
 The height of the sculpture will be 2.5 meters, he said.
 
 "I will try to send a social message through my sculpture."
 
 Pattnaik has participated in more than 37 international sand sculpture championships across the globe and has won many awards.