A student takes part in a clay-modelling competition at Patna College of Arts and Crafts on Thursday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Jan. 13: It was time to get the hands dirty, as art students moulded clay into models at a clay modelling competition held at Patna College of Arts and Crafts today.

The final day of the four-day event, organised by CMS Environment and Saakar Foundation, also had a T-shirt designing competition. The theme for both the competitions was “climatic change and sustainable technologies”.

First-year bachelor of fine arts student Sanatan Mandal spoke of the need to stop deforestation through his model. “I have depicted a labourer cutting down trees. The police stop him and try to make him understand that the tree is also a living creature,” Mandal said.

He said he believed cutting down trees was a sin.

Atul Aditya Pandey, the principal-in-charge of the college, said: “This is a unique competition. It tries to impart a message through art. Scientists tell us about the conditions of our world through their research, artistes portray it through art.”

The competitors were nonchalant about getting their hands dirty. Most of them were proud of their technique.

“It is all about the technique. If you can master it, you can make anything out of clay,” said Veer Chandra Kunwar, another participant.

Participants at the T-shirt designing competition were equally imaginative about their work of art.

Sujit Nandan, a 22-year-old student, depicted the vulnerability of flowers and butterflies.

Some of the participants said it was “cool” to design your own T-shirt.

“There is nothing cooler than designing your own T-shirt. You can do whatever you want. You can put cool designs and quotes that reflect your personality,” said Sameer Mohammed, a participant.