A Taj Mahal in Brussels?

A Taj Mahal in Brussels?
New Delhi, Feb 20 (PTI) Belgians will get a chance to see the Taj Mahal as the 17th century monument of love will be brought alive on sand by noted artist Sudarshan Patnaik, who says he wants to do it for French President Nicolas Sarkozy too.Patnaik will create a replica of the Taj on sand as part of the Asia Fair in Belgium."The replica will be exhibited for two days from February 23 at the community centre De Zandloper in Wemmel in Brussels," Patnaik told PTI from the Belgian capital."It will be a four-dimension replica, 10 ft high and 15 ft wide for which the work is currently underway. It will be ready on February 23," said Patnaik, who will use 30 tonnes of sand and will be assisted by co-artist Manas Kumar Sahoo in his endeavour.The Orissa-based artist, who had so far participated in over 34 such sand sculpture events, said he has an ambition to create as many as 100 sand Taj Mahals across the globe."Recently French President Sarkozy visited the Taj and said 'see you again'. I want to create it in Paris for him and the French people, if I get a chance." He has already exhibited the replicas of the Shah Jahan-built structure in Berlin and New York during the Incredible India at 60 Festival.The Asia Fair is being organised in Belgium in coordination with the Indian Embassy."Sand is a unique and soft medium, so people like to see this Taj Mahal for a few hours in their cities," he said.Earlier Patnaik had created a black Taj Mahal at Agra on the occasion of 350 years of anniversary of the "monument of love." PTI