Pigeon with 2557 Feathers

Rishi Khurana

Mixed Media - Canvas on 3D Printed Pigeon with Acrylic Poop and Oats

4 x 12 x 10 cm

Pigeon with 2557 Feathers, I subvert the traditional relationship between art and its commodity form, Is it disgusting? Is it an attempt to provoke emotions? Is it a very lucky pigeon? Or is it a beautifully crafted art object?. By injecting humor and irony into the process I became fascinated by the urban bird's ability to thrive on human leftovers. I reversed this dynamic, creating an art object that feeds humans "pigeon leftovers" - a commentary on the value we assign to art and the cultural significance of this bird. Inspired by the pigeons roaming in Trafalgar Square, London. The process of creating the pigeon and counting its feathers is a repetitive, mechanized act, recorded and placed in London's gallery-rich areas. The pigeon holds ambiguous meanings across cultures - revered in Hindu culture as a follower of Goddess Laxmi a symbol of wealth and prosperity, yet revealed in London as a pest. I exploit this dichotomy in this project by creating a performance and art object that challenges our perceptions.