Unique seashell Ganesha sculpture enters Guiness Book

Radha Mallappa, a city-based artist, has earned a place in the prestigious Guinness Book of World Records for her creation of the largest seashell sculpture of Lord Ganapathi. The 11-foot sculpture is on display at her home museum, ‘Kalashree Bhandar’ in Bannimantap.

Radha has personally collected seashells from beaches across south India and most of them have been imported from foreign countries. The total weight of the seashells used for the sculpture is 420 kg.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Radha said, “The seashells used for the sculpture are natural and not dyed and artificial. While 20% of the shells are from personal collection, 80% of them have been imported from Hong Kong, Singapore and other countries.” She orders for shells from a supplier in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu.

Explaining about the sculpture that has made her enter the Guinness World Records, Radha said that she has spent almost 12 hours per day for four years to complete the sculpture.

The strenuous process of cleaning and bleaching seashells was challenging, said Radha, who worked on it alone and was successful in making it to the world records. She has so far, spent approximately Rs 6 lakh for the sculpture.

Claiming to be the first Guinness Record holder of Mysuru district, Radha
said that she had applied for it in the year 2012, when she started the work. A team from Germany and America visited the spot many times and videographed the whole exercise. Her work was approved by the organisation on March 18, 2016, and the certificate was issued a few days ago.

According to the certificate, “The largest seashell sculpture is 6.74 mts (22.ft 1 inch) in the sum of all dimensions and was created by Radha Mallappa (India) in Mysuru, Karnataka, India.”

Radha, a native of Hullahalli, Nanjangud taluk, was supported by her husband Mallappa, who owns MSK Industries and mother Susheelamma.

Other similar works
Her other artefacts made of seashells — Taj Mahal, Shiva temple, penguins, idols of Ganesha, Mahalakshmi, Saraswathi, Yadiyuru Siddalingeshwara, Kalingamarthana and others — have been displayed at her home museum in Hanumanthnagar, Bannimantap.

Radha is also an Ayurveda practitioner. She has received several awards such as ‘Bharat Jyoti Award’ from National Integration and Economic Council, ‘Kittur Rani Chennamma award,’ ‘Hoysala award,’ ‘Kala Saraswathi award,’ ‘Aryabhata,’ ‘Amoghavarsha,’ and ‘Sir M Visvevaraya’ award.