Jalandhar artist Varun Tondon welcomed 2026 with a sand artwork symbolizing the passage of time and change. The piece depicts people observing a sand clock, with past years dissolving and the new year emerging, representing acceptance and hope. Tondon explained sand's ephemeral nature mirrors time's ungraspable quality. He recently gained attention for using soil to create portraits of freedom fighters, each with a QR code linking to their narrated stories.