Mumbai’s crows inspire sculptor

Pradeep Shinde expresses his fondness for the birds in a group exhibition. He has created 18 sculptures of crows in various scenarios for his exhibition titled "Shagun."

Crows are a perennial fixture in Mumbai’s skyline. They are also the subject of folklore, beliefs and superstitions aplenty. Sculptor Pradeep Shinde has used this as the basis of his exhibition, titled Shagun.

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“We’ve seen them around since we were kids. We grew up on tales of how, when crows perch themselves at our windows, they have a message to deliver, and they carry shagun (good tidings) with them,” says Shinde, who was fascinated by the potential of the crow’s dark hues to be translated into the medium of sculpture.

From daily life
Over a span of seven months, Shinde has created 18 sculptures of crows, in various scenarios as they are seen around the city — perched on taxis, post boxes, street signs, washing lines, trees and even on statues. What’s more, they have all been created using elements from daily life such as boxes, scissors, spare parts of bicycles etc.

“Whatever you see around you is what I have used in my works,” smiles Shinde, adding, “It’s an unusual theme: one that hasn’t been interpreted before. I hope people come to see it.”