04:10Indian artist Bijay Kumar has created tiny chalk sculptures depicting the leaders of the five original BRICS member countries ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Footage captured in Berhampur on Wednesday shows the 23-year-old electrical engineer from Ganjam working with specialised micro-tools to carve the figures, alongside colourful BRICS lettering, national flags and the 2026 summit logo.
"India is hosting the BRICS summit in 2026. So, as a welcome gesture, I carved the faces of the leaders of all five countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa," he said.
Kumar said that each portrait is approximately one centimetre tall and the complete artwork took around one month to finish, with individual faces requiring up to two days of work.
"My purpose in working with chalk is to promote our art and culture. Odisha, in particular, has many artists who create art using various mediums, like sand artists. So this time, I thought of making a miniature," the artist added.
Kumar has also attracted international attention, saying the Embassy of South Africa recently contacted him about sending the artwork to the country. He said he would be pleased if other embassies also showed interest in the piece.
"I am really delighted, and if something comes from another embassy as well, it will feel wonderful knowing that relationships between nations can improve through such efforts," he shared
Known as the 'Odisha Chalk Artist' on social media, Kumar has gained national recognition for transforming ordinary blackboard chalk into remarkable tiny works of art. He holds a Guinness World Record for crafting a minuscule 1.13-millimetre wooden spoon.
The 18th BRICS Summit will take place in New Delhi at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre from September 12 to 13.
Chalk this up to BRICS! - Indian artist carves tiny figures of founding leaders ahead of New Delhi summit
Indian artist Bijay Kumar has created tiny chalk sculptures depicting the leaders of the five original BRICS member countries ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Footage captured in Berhampur on Wednesday shows the 23-year-old electrical engineer from Ganjam working with specialised micro-tools to carve the figures, alongside colourful BRICS lettering, national flags and the 2026 summit logo.
"India is hosting the BRICS summit in 2026. So, as a welcome gesture, I carved the faces of the leaders of all five countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa," he said.
Kumar said that each portrait is approximately one centimetre tall and the complete artwork took around one month to finish, with individual faces requiring up to two days of work.
"My purpose in working with chalk is to promote our art and culture. Odisha, in particular, has many artists who create art using various mediums, like sand artists. So this time, I thought of making a miniature," the artist added.
Kumar has also attracted international attention, saying the Embassy of South Africa recently contacted him about sending the artwork to the country. He said he would be pleased if other embassies also showed interest in the piece.
"I am really delighted, and if something comes from another embassy as well, it will feel wonderful knowing that relationships between nations can improve through such efforts," he shared
Known as the 'Odisha Chalk Artist' on social media, Kumar has gained national recognition for transforming ordinary blackboard chalk into remarkable tiny works of art. He holds a Guinness World Record for crafting a minuscule 1.13-millimetre wooden spoon.
The 18th BRICS Summit will take place in New Delhi at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre from September 12 to 13.
Indian artist Bijay Kumar has created tiny chalk sculptures depicting the leaders of the five original BRICS member countries ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Footage captured in Berhampur on Wednesday shows the 23-year-old electrical engineer from Ganjam working with specialised micro-tools to carve the figures, alongside colourful BRICS lettering, national flags and the 2026 summit logo.
"India is hosting the BRICS summit in 2026. So, as a welcome gesture, I carved the faces of the leaders of all five countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa," he said.
Kumar said that each portrait is approximately one centimetre tall and the complete artwork took around one month to finish, with individual faces requiring up to two days of work.
"My purpose in working with chalk is to promote our art and culture. Odisha, in particular, has many artists who create art using various mediums, like sand artists. So this time, I thought of making a miniature," the artist added.
Kumar has also attracted international attention, saying the Embassy of South Africa recently contacted him about sending the artwork to the country. He said he would be pleased if other embassies also showed interest in the piece.
"I am really delighted, and if something comes from another embassy as well, it will feel wonderful knowing that relationships between nations can improve through such efforts," he shared
Known as the 'Odisha Chalk Artist' on social media, Kumar has gained national recognition for transforming ordinary blackboard chalk into remarkable tiny works of art. He holds a Guinness World Record for crafting a minuscule 1.13-millimetre wooden spoon.
The 18th BRICS Summit will take place in New Delhi at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre from September 12 to 13.