"Stick to Death" : Art Installation by Amarnath Sharma, Baroda

Art is a powerful tool; and any form of visual communication helps to enhance the impact of social messages. Art installations are extremely powerful tools for conveying a message for public benefit, using semiotics - in an inoffensive, thought-provoking yet forceful manner.

“Stick to death” is an initiative sponsored by HCG Cancer Centre, Baroda to spread awareness about the dangers of smoking, and the increased risk of cancer that smokers face. Curated by one of Baroda’s leading art curators Sachin Kaluskar, the art-installation done by Baroda-based artist Amarnath Sharma has turned out to be a really stunning one, and a memorable effort to discourage smoking. 

First installed outside Platform no 1 of the Vadodara Railway Station, it was later moved to HCG Care Centre – where it was on display in the reception foyer for about a week. The team now intends to take it across various schools and colleges of Baroda - to discourage young kids from smoking, and to make them aware of its negative impacts on human life.

HCG – Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd – with a chain of specialty cancer care centres in 20 cities of India, has been redefining the future of cancer care in India by designing, building and managing cancer centres with a steadfast vision: to transform the cancer care environment by bringing core clinical services to one central place.

The intent to help cancer patients live longer, better lives – manifests into a hospital space that offers a different kind of spatial experience. Externally presenting itself as a smart, efficient building, the interior ambience of the state-of-the-art hospital (in Baroda) is soothing, and positive. And each wall of each section is embellished with soulful, vibrant paintings – that subconsciously calm the frazzled nerves of the patients and their caregivers! 

Using PVC pipes, acrylic colours, metal, acrylic and oil colours and silk threads, “Stick to death” is an arrangement of about 20 realistic cigarette sculptures, of varying lengths (from 2 feet to 9 feet); each one burning and facing upwards. Some of the burning cigarettes have a tap with flowing red coloured silk threads representing the harmful effects of smoking, alluding perhaps to blood.

“Aap cigarette ko nahi jalate ho, Cigarette aapko jalati hai” ("You don't burn a cigarette, the cigarette burns you") - Is the message that this installation wishes to convey to every smoker. Indeed, we need many such strong, visual messages to spread awareness about several significant issues concerning public health, urban chaos, global warming and more!