Find how unhealthy habits changes the shade of your heart through 3D murals

Bengaluru: Visualise this: 3D murals popping up in Metro stations, showing hearts actually chained to stress, smoking, junk food, and other everyday villains. But here's the twist — it's not just eye candy. Scan the QR code, and you can see how a heart's colour changes depending on what unhealthy lifestyle you choose.
Launched on Monday, this immersive artwork has already garnered over 500 scans.The initiative by BMRCL, in collaboration with Bengaluru traffic police and Manipal Hospitals, comes in light for the upcoming World Heart Day on Friday.
The heart mural, bound by chains, represents harmful habits that weigh people down. The community is urged to break free from these chains — whether it's smoking, poor diet, or addiction — and take steps towards healthier living. Many visitors who interacted with the 3D mural shared their experiences with TOI, revealing how it shed light on the damaging effects of everyday lifestyle choices on heart health. Suresh Rana, a 34-year-old tech professional from Indiranagar, said: "I never realised that living a sedentary life, smoking, and dealing with chronic stress could literally darken my heart. You always assume life-threatening diseases won't happen to you. For people like me, this mural was a wake-up call — a stark reminder to break free from unhealthy habits and take control of my heart's future."
Aruna Shah, a homemaker from Vasanthnagar, shared her experience of being unexpectedly drawn in by the 3D mural at Cubbon Park Metro station. "Looking at the heart presented in mural, I wondered what shade of red was my heart. With the QR scan, I chose the lifestyle habits I relate to, and was shocked to see reddish-black shade of the heart. It grabs your attention and really makes you think about taking action for your heart health immediately. In the middle of our busy lives, art like this makes you pause and reflect on something as important as your well-being," she said.
This creative initiative is led by two renowned artists: Baadal Nanjundaswamy, known for his impactful spot art installations, and Mukesh Kumar, a 3D art specialist from Haryana.
The murals will be displayed at over 20 key locations across Bengaluru. Currently, it's present in Metro stations like Cubbon Park, Indiranagar, and MG Road.
In apartment complexes
For residents, apartment complexes like Prestige Tranquility and Purva Fountain Square will host the murals, while students at Manipal Academy of Higher Education in Yelahanka can experience them too. Even travellers at Kempegowda International Airport's T1 and T2 will have a chance to pause and reflect on their heart health as they pass by the displays. Tech hubs including Embassy Manyata, Embassy Golf Links, Embassy Tech Village, and ITPL in Whitefield will also showcase the artwork.