Techie makes Guinness attempt with toothpicks

COIMBATORE: A 24-year-old techie in Coimbatore has attempted to set a Guinness World record by making the largest artwork using toothpicks. K S Kamalakannan has worked for 33 days to make the artwork at the Tidel Park in Coimbatore.
Kamalakannan, a native of Salem, developed interest in artwork while he was studying in Class 5. He is a computer science engineer from SNS College of Engineering here.
“In college, I attempted three artworks. In 2013, I made a portrait of Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar. The portrait had all the 1,330 kurals (couplets) with the meanings inscribed on it,” said Kamalakannan, who works at Personiv AG Resources Pvt Ltd.
In 2014, he made a portrait of Lord Krishna advising Arjuna during the battle of Kurukshetra. The portrait had Bhagavad Gita verses.
In 2015, he created an artwork using lentils to spread a message on the ill effects of smoking, alcoholism, HIV and awareness on organ donation. “This entered the Elite Book of Records,” he said.
The reason for trying to make the world’s largest artwork was to expose his talent and also to reach out to people with the message on Swachch Bharath. “My previous works received recognition, but I want earn a global identity. When I told about this to my team leader, R Naveen, he and a few other colleagues motivated me to attempt a world record,” said Kamalakannan.
“After some research, we decided to do an art with toothpicks. This idea was supported by our vice-president Fredrick John,” he added.
Personiv, where Kamalakannan works, engages its employees in a Swachch Bharath activity every month. “We visit schools and colleges and carry out cleaning programmes. This artwork was considered part of this,” said Fredrick John.
“A total of Rs 3.9 lakh was spent on the artwork that was sponsored by Personiv. The toothpicks were purchased from Mumbai. We used six colours to paint them. An agriculturist from the city, C Ponnusamy, helped me with painting the toothpicks,” said Kamalakannan.
The techie attempted the record without any practice. “We started on October 10. Thermocol sheets were placed on plywood, and I drew a rough pencil sketch on it. Then I pierced toothpicks on it,” said Kamalakannan. The canvas was 15x7 feet. “I spent 33 days at the Tidel Park. My friends and colleagues helped with food and shelter. I slept for four hours every day,” said Kamalakanna.
The initial days were challenging for him as the air-conditioned environment made him sick, and piercing toothpicks tore his skin on few occasions.
To submit proof for the attempt, the event was video-recorded. A four-member team adjudicated the event. The members are: president of Rotary Club of Coimbatore Green City N Selvaraj, vice-president of Tamil Nadu Science Forum N Thirumoorthy, headmaster of Government High School, Kembanaickenpatti, R Nehru and headmaster of Government High School, Periyaputhur, T Arunachalam.
Thirumoorthy visited the Tidel Park twice. “We watched the video recording and are satisfied,” said Selvaraj.