Birds have fascinated me since childhood. My father used to feed birds every morning before eating his own breakfast. I have beautiful memories of birds perched on various flowering bushes and fruit trees in my mother’s garden. 

Subconsciously the birds have found their way in my art. I have been painting birds on ceramic mugs, on ceramic tiles, on paper, and on canvas. 

I believe that beyond the ecological contributions of the birds, their beauty, their elegance, their adaptability and their resilience, they teach us the valuable lessons of coexistence, of exploring the immense possibilities all around us, of living in the moment, and above all having the self confidence to fly high on our own strength. 

The artworks in the exhibition, ‘Birds and their Symbolism’ have gradually evolved over the past six years. The exhibition consists of both 2D and 3D works. It comprises of 7 sculptures and 10 paintings based on the stories, ideologies and cultural beliefs related to five birds – the crow, the Canadian geese, the parrot, the peacock, and the eagle. 

I was born and brought up in India but I have lived in Canada for more than five decades. My Indian heritage and culture are an integral part of all aspects of my life including my thought processes that led to the creation of the artworks in this exhibition. The mixed-media paintings and sculptures are based on the concepts, the mythological narratives, the historical references, and the literary contexts related to these five birds in the eastern and western cultures. 

Experience the various artworks featured in this exhibition virtually.

The sculpture 'Union' depicts parrots are associated with the Hindu goddess of fertility Meenakshi. Couples pray to her for a happy marriage as they begin the process of building a life.  
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The diptych 'Building a Life' portrays the parrots building their nest one straw at a time as they make a home to nurture the next generation.  How is this any different from the human hands that fulfil the desired dreams and aspirations of building a life?

The crows are known for their intelligence. There are many beliefs related to crows in India which have inspired the creation of various sculptures and mixed media paintings featured in this exhibition. One of the sayings in Hindi is about a crow trying to be like a beautiful graceful swan. In the process of imitating the swan, the crow forgets to be himself and compromises his own identity. The sculpture, ‘Imitation Game’ is a commentary of the minority cultural group merging into the dominant culture.

The mixed-media triptych ‘Sanskaar’ depicts the story of the valour Lord Rama, It is the story of the victory of good over evil. Rama embodies the ideal virtues of a human being. To read the whole description of this triptych click here.

The concept of our ancestors coming back to visit is depicted in the sculpture ‘Crowcestor’. The delicate greyish shades of the human face kind of morphs into the crow, a transition from the world of living to after life. 

Geese demonstrate collaboration and team work as depicted in the painting 'Stronger Together'. They show us that by working together we are stronger. 

The geese are looked upon as an example of of shared leadership and team work. The installation of a gaggle of five geese entitled, ‘Strategy’ depicts this. 

Remember Aesop’s fable, ‘The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg’? The sculpture ‘Greed’ is based on this story. It’s a reminder that greed causes us to lose a lot in life. 

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Eagles show us the importance of being focused on the objective, of perseverance, and of soaring high on the strength of their own wings.  Eagles symbolize strength, wisdom, courage, power, and freedom. The painting 'One Mountain at a Time' conveys the message of dealing with one challenge at a time with strength and resolve.

The eagles are known for their sharp, unwavering focus on their prey. The painting 'Concentration' conveys the importance of staying intensely focused on one's objective.

The sculpture ‘Wings of Eternity: The Divine Guardians’ displays eagle as the bridge between two philosophical constructs and mythologies - the Egyptian and the Hindu. 

Peacock is the national bird of India. It is known for its mesmerizing beauty. The triptych ‘Rejuvenation’ depicts the ecstatic peacock at the arrival of monsoons. Peacocks dance in the rain welcoming the monsoons. The parched earth begins to rejuvenate with greenery and colourful flowers. 

Peacocks are associated with various deities in India. Lord Krishna wore a peacock feather in his hair. The peacock has a 'Spiritual Connection' with Krishna.

Throughout history the peacocks have been associated with divinity, royalty and power. They are associated with various deities in India. The sculpture ‘Royal Divinity’ features some of the gods and goddesses associated with the peacock along with emperor Shahjahan whose throne was peacock shaped and was adorned with many precious jewels. 

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The artworks in the exhibition 'Birds and their Symbolism' will be presented once again at the Saint John Arts Centre in July and August 2025.