A gigantic statue of a roaring Asiatic lion and a galloping horse are among the new sculptures made from scrap to be added to the city’s landscape soon, The Indian Express has learnt. Each of these is crafted entirely from discarded metal sourced from the city’s urban waste. This initiative blends public art with sustainability, giving scrap a second life while telling stories rooted in culture, identity, and imagination.
In the open-air studio of sculptor Sunil Shridhar, one can see an athlete in blue throwing the javelin, presumably to honour Neeraj Chopra, a flag sculpture representing the five Olympic rings and one titled ‘Gravity of Love’ featuring a couple in a dance pose, suspended mid-motion inside a metallic ring. Then there is Weapon of Wisdom, where a pencil spirals around a finger like the Sudarshan Chakra.
Other planned installations include a yoga posture, a figurative abstract sculpture that disrupts urban monotony with mythic proportions, and the ‘Wheel of Peace,’ representing the five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and space—in a flowing, interconnected form.
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Across Ahmedabad, 22 sculptures have already found their place in the city’s ever-evolving urban landscape, each one forged from discarded scrap metal, and each telling a story of resilience, identity, and transformation. Now, 10 more are set to rise, promising to add new layers of meaning and imagination to the city’s streets.
In the open-air studio of sculptor Sunil Shridhar, one can see an athlete in blue throwing the javelin, presumably to honour Neeraj Chopra. (Express Photo)
This initiative is being executed in collaboration with artists contracted by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). One of them, Sunil Shridhar, told The Indian Express, “I have worked abroad and received several opportunities to continue there. But my heart has always been set on contributing to India; that is the thought that drives me.”
“Ahmedabad is my hometown, and when you are working for your own city, you give it your absolute best. If possible, I would like to extend this kind of artistic contribution to all of Gujarat, and eventually, to the entire country.”
The use of scrap metal to create public art has a dual function: it is a cost-effective way to beautify the city, and it sends a strong message about reuse and resourcefulness at a time when cities across India are grappling with the challenges of urban waste.
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Across Ahmedabad, 22 sculptures have already found their place in the city’s ever-evolving urban landscape, each one forged from discarded scrap metal, and each telling a story of resilience, identity, and transformation. (Express Photo)
Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani said repurposing scrap metal into public sculptures is part of Ahmedabad’s broader ‘waste to wealth’ initiative. “The metal used in these installations is sourced from urban waste collected in and around the city,” he said.
He added that Ahmedabad’s recent recognition with the Clean City award in the over 10 lakh population category reinforces this vision. “Our focus on recycling, reusing, and reducing aligns seamlessly with the ethos of the Waste to Wealth mission,” he said.
Joint Commissioner of Police (traffic) N N Chaudhari said the installation of sculptures takes place only after a team of experts from the AMC reviews them. “If we observe any traffic-related issues afterwards, we immediately raise the concerns with the AMC, and they respond promptly and positively,” he added.
Jay Jani is an intern with The Indian Express, Ahmedabad.