CIG SERIES
BRANDON HILL /
Cigarette Box Sculpture Works from 2021 - 2024
Last Shown in
The Bishop Gallery , Brooklyn, NY
CIG SERIES /
The Cig Box series depicts the two most common state of cigarettes — as trash or fresh from a vending machine. The lifecycle of any cigarette means it is destined to become litter from the moment a box is opened. The butts will fall to the ground, packs will overflow trash cans, smoke will seep into fabrics and tar will collect in your lungs. The remnants are both visible and invisible. Made of a steel and resin construction painted with automotive grade enamels, and a 2-part clear coat finish, these boxes eliminate any illusion that the litter from cigarettes is impermanent.
I attempt to view these works as urban origami with shapes taught reflect the crimping from pressures exerted before discarding, and also the unique way trash will deteriorate of the ground.
Kill’ Em’s
Stainless Steel, Enamel, Acrylic
7.5” x 15.25” x 24”
2021
$7,500
With no other purpose than to slowly kill, any time one of these international brands (or others) explores a new market, they are in search of new “victims.” They use carefully crafted advertisements, targeted marketing, and well-tested designs to lure new smokers. (Serial killers have a similar process.) Using the company playbook, I created Kill-em’s. A fictitious cigarette brand box is hidden among replicas, Kill-Em’s displays morbidity in the cutest possible way by putting an honest name with the bright colors and splashy graphics on these boxes. The KILL’EMs brand is also an ‘Easter egg’ in other works, hiding amongst the other brands.
Made of a steel and resin construction painted with automotive grade enamels, and a 2-part clear coat finish, these boxes eliminate any illusion that the litter from cigarettes is impermanent.
Wakaba
Wakaba (Young Leaf)
Stainless Steel, Enamel, Acrylic
7.5” x 15.25” x 24”
2021
$7,800
Wakaba ( Young Leaf ), imitates a popular and now discontinued brand of cigarette in Japanese. Shape explores themes of typography, shape and form. The sculpture shows a squeezed and compressed surface balanced with a precisely painted typography on a stainless steel chassis. This piece hangs on a stainless steel cleat.
Stantons
Stainless Steel, Enamel, Acrylic
7.5” x 15.25” x 24”
2021
$7800
The sculpture explores themes of typography, shape and form. Cigarette brands have to communicate a lot of marketing in a small space such as coolness, affluence, upward mobility or even freedom. This sculpture is meant to be a deep dive in yesteryear. This sculpture shows a playful balance of the painted metallic as well as exposing the natural stainless chassis. Piece hangs on a stainless steel cleat and has a lightly crushed appearance.
ALFA “Crushed”
Stainless Steel, Enamel, Acrylic
7.5” x 15.25” x 24”
2022
$8500
The sculpture explores themes of typography, shape and form. The sculpture is shown crushed as though by hand. Shows an appearance as though the protective paper inside was torn or exposed. Brands have to communicate a lot in a small space, this sculpture is meant to be a deep dive in yesteryear. This sculpture shows a playful balance of the painted metallic as well as exposing the natural stainless body. The piece hangs on a stainless steel cleat.
PARLIAMENT (super crushed)
Stainless Steel, Enamel, Acrylic
7.5” x 15.25” x 24”
2022
$8,500
Fully flattened, this piece goes a bit further in the collection as though crushed and a pocket and discarded on the ground and run over by a car. The challenge was in knowing when to quit. How far to paint, create, destroy, and re-paint? The sculpture explores themes of typography, shape and form. Cigarette brands have to communicate a lot of marketing in a small space such as coolness, affluence, upward mobility, social status or even freedom. This sculpture is meant to be a deep dive in yesteryear. This sculpture shows a playful balance of the painted metallic as well as exposing the natural stainless chassis. The piece hangs on a stainless steel cleat and has an extremely crushed appearance. The sculpture looks as though it has been crushed by a passing car.
LUCKY STRIKE - crush one
Stainless Steel, Enamel, Acrylic
7.5” x 15.25” x 24”
2022
$8,000 USD
Luckies are the quintessential WW2 fighting man’s cigarette. The sculpture shows the interior and exterior guts and foil wrapping. Shape explores themes of typography, shape, and form. This sculpture shows a playful balance of the painted metallic as well as exposing the natural stainless chassis. The piece hangs on a stainless steel cleat.
MD CIGS
Brandon Hill
Stainless Steel, Enamel, Acrylic
7.5” x 15.25” x 24”
2022
$7,500 USD
Maryland is a Luxembourgish brand of cigarettes, currently owned and manufactured by "Landewyck Tobacco", In Luxemburg. (Wiki). Maryland was introduced in 1944 when raw tobacco for Landewyck's other brand Africaine was in short supply and became a popular brand in Luxembourg, becoming known as a "cigarette for everyone". ( WIKI )
Part of the Cig Series, this sculpture explores themes of typography, shape, and form. Though typically crushed and deformed, this box is displayed and clean and sharp. The idea is that this pack is fresh from the local corner store. Brands have to communicate a lot in a small space, this sculpture is meant to be a deep dive in yesteryear. This sculpture shows a playful balance of the painted metallic as well as exposing the natural stainless chassis. The piece hangs on a stainless steel cleat.
Crush your “Spirit “
Stainless Steel, Enamel, Acrylic
7.5” x 15.25” x 24”
2022
$8,000 USD
Crush your Spirits evokes feelings of the all natural and expansive American West. The shape explores themes of typography, shape and form. The sculpture shows a glossy exterior finish over black. This sculpture shows a playful balance of style with minimal color pallet. Piece hangs on a stainless steel cleat.
Ain’t that Kool
Ain’t that Kool
Stainless Steel, Enamel, Acrylic
7.5” x 15.25” x 24”
2022
$8,000 USD
The idea is that this pack is fresh from the local corner store. Uncrushed, and behind the counter. Brands have to communicate a lot in a small space, this sculpture is meant to be a deep dive in yesteryear. This sculpture shows a playful balance of the painted metallic as well as exposing the natural stainless chassis. Piece hangs on a stainless steel cleat.
NewBoro (HALF n’ HALF)
Epoxy Resin, Fiberglass Enamel, Acrylic
7.5” x 15.25” x 24”
(Price upon request )
Part of my ongoing cig series. Made of a steel and fiberglass resin construction painted with automotive grade enamels, and a 2-part clear coat finish, these boxes eliminate any illusion that the litter from cigarettes is impermanent. First of this iteration the half n half piece playfully combines an idea of difference and sameness. So what's the difference, the difference is the difference.
The original cowboy Marlboro Man - Bob Norris himself never smoked. His image graced thousands of billboards and magazine ads, always with a Marlboro cigarette. But in the 1950’s this was the ski lodge chic cigarette of the day. This concept peels back the layers' marketing, with an error in the peeling as though the wizard behind the curtain was revealed out of sync.
