Charlie Chaplin and Miss Piggy are amongst the icons recreated at Sand Sculpture festival in Denmark

Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

Listening

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. theme / θim / (n.) – the main idea or subject on which the style of something, like a party, a room, or an event, is based
    Example:

    The museum’s new exhibition has a central theme of ancient civilizations, showing old items from Egypt, Greece, and Rome.


  2. durability / ˌdʊər əˈbɪl ɪ ti / (n.) – the ability of something to last a long time without breaking or getting damaged easily
    Example:

    The durability of this bag is great. It still looks new after many years of use.


  3. fortnight / ˈfɔrtˌnaɪt / (n.) – a period of two weeks
    Example:

    The project deadline is in a fortnight, so we really need to work hard and finish all the reports.


  4. evolve / ɪˈvɒlv / (v.) – to change slowly over a long time, usually to become better
    Example:

    The company’s approach to customer service evolved over the years, moving from simple phone calls to using online chat and social media.


  5. gaze / geɪz / (v.) – to look at something for a long time, often because it is interesting or beautiful
    Example:

    The children often gaze at the playful puppies in the pet shop window, wishing they could take one home.


Article

Read the text below.

Charlie Chaplin, Miss Piggy, grand opera spectacles and circus clowns—countless Showtime-inspired sand sculptures are emerging from the sand at the Hundested Sand Sculpture Festival in northeast Denmark.


Launched in 2012 as a creative way to put the small seaside town of 8,000 on the tourist map, the Hundested Sand Sculpture Festival is now in its fourteenth year.


Organizer Christian Warrer says, with so much going on in the world that is “not to laugh about,” they chose to explore a “funny” theme like Showtime. The sculptors have just days to complete their sandy masterpieces, but the festival runs till late October, so durability is key.


The annual event, which opened to visitors on May 23, attracts every year an array of top international sand sculptors, from Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Italy, Latvia, the UK, the United States and more.


Sixteen international artists are attending this year, most crafting two sculptures over the course of a fortnight.


Italian sand sculptor Michela Ciappini, from Bologna, is finishing this graceful figure of an elderly woman mid-dance.


“I imagine that now the very important person is the old generation who represent their entire life and actually our roots. So, I give them the dance and the freedom and the attention,” explains Ciappini.


Elsewhere, British sand sculptor Nicola Wood is finishing this Picasso-esque strongman-themed sand sculpture.


“I’ve just taken all the elements of a strong man, a woman, and pieced them all back together in a Picasso style, using his iconic parts,” she explains. “The weights, the strong arm, the bit of leopard print, some circus stripes, some circus lettering.”


Wood says sand sculpting has evolved a lot over the past 20 years.


“People are really testing the limits of sand. They’re testing its capabilities. The texture, the strength of it. People are really taking it somewhere,” she adds. “People are pushing those boundaries and using sand to tell different stories and to make political messages. That’s something that has definitely increased and evolved.”


Over 60,000 visitors are expected to gaze on these daring creations over the festival’s six-month run.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The sand sculptures, despite their temporary nature, attract many visitors. What do you think is the appeal of art that is not meant to last forever? Do you think the temporary nature of something makes it more or less valuable? Why? Discuss.
  • The article notes that artists are increasingly using sand to tell different stories and make political messages. Why might artists choose to use sand as a medium for storytelling or political expression? Are there any limitations to using art for communication, especially when it comes to complex and serious issues? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The choice of a “funny” theme was influenced by the number of serious things happening globally. How do you think current events often shape the themes and styles in art? In your opinion, can art that is about a specific time period still be important to people later? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Would you like to attend the Hundested Sand Sculpture Festival? Why or why not? What makes an exhibition interesting for you (ex. theme, medium or type of art)? Discuss.