Installation of drugs near the northern stand in Vadakkechira, Thrissur. | Photo Credit: Kk Najeeb
The young boy, carved by the fiber, can be seen – he fled from the clutches of a demonic octopus, perceived as a drug demon and seeks refuge in the outstretched arms of the police. This distinctive scene is the heart of the bold new installation of the Drugs introduced near the northern stand in Vadakkechira, Thrissur.
A massive statue is not just a work of art, it is a courageous statement that costs 18 feet high, stretching 40 feet in length and 12 feet in width, it is not just a work of art – it is a courageous statement. The structure made of more than 3.5 tonnes of discarded metal – gears, nuts, screws and sheets – the structure warns not only for its scale, but for its brutal texture that reflects the bold war against drugs.
Officer’s vision
The core is the vision of a sub-inspector of the Police in NG Suvratha Kumar, who spent 17 years fighting drug threat in the city. Sculptor and artist Davinchi Suresh gave this vision a form using almost 90% of discarded spare parts – most of them carefully came from scrap through the districts. This process lasted almost six months and a reserved team of 12 people to complete.
“I wanted this installation to look harsh-like a machine built for resistance. Multi-branch part of the old vehicles gave him as intense, bruised figure. After all, what better way to fight something as destructive as drugs than with pieces that have already withstand wear?” Mr. Suresh asks.
Finding hope
Boy and police hands – cast in the thread – are symbolic. The child, representing vulnerable youth, attempts to escape the tightening of addiction and finds hope in the protection of law enforcement. A huge syringe pierced his book. An antagonist, a monstrous figure of an octopus named Lahari Bheekaran (Drug Demon), is a mammoth visual metaphor for dark move of addictive substances.
This is financed by ICL Fincorp and built on the attic assigned by Thrissur Corporation, the first drug installation of its kind. It’s not just sculpture – it’s a cry for consciousness against drug threat.
Published – 21 June 2025 20:31 IS IS
