Artist Patrick Cabral's intricate paper sculptures draw attention to coffee growing regions

Hanging from the walls of the newest Starbucks reserve branch are stunning paper sculptures of animals from the different areas where the coffee titan source their beans.

The intricate paper cut typography is done by artist Patrick Cabral, who created three new pieces for Starbucks: the Sumatran Tiger for Asia Pacific, the Kenyan Elephant for Africa, and the Guatemalan Quetzal Bird for Latin America.

 

 

 

 

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Full extent of the wall of my artworks at @starbucksreserve SM North Towers commissioned by @starbucksph . I worked with the Starbucks Asia Pacific team in Hong Kong on this project. I was quite nervous when they first got in touch with me because I was scared of the horrors of shipping huge artwork abroad, what more if it's 3 huge art pieces. I didn't really ask where it would be located at first because I wasn't even sure if it's going to push through because I already had around 3 project which has almost the same specification as this project that failed to materialize, one is even for a huge fashion house which until now I am still hoping to push through :) . I felt a little confident when they sent me the blueprint and I saw that it's going to be in a new branch of Starbucks Reserve here in Manila. I think a lot of people assume that it's so easy for my projects to get funded now because it is being featured on a lot places. A lot of people doesn't even know that I am based in Manila, where you don't really have a lot of resources for projects like this. I have talked to a lot of recognized local designers this year and it seems that everyone always have to improvise in order for them to achieve their goals. We don't really have access to a lot of high end equipments here and a lot still has to do manual labor for something that can be easily achieved by technology. Sometimes it can get really frustrating because we are all equal citizens of the world, and only few has an access to best tools that the world can offer. Every time I do projects like this, I always aim to over-deliver, because I am not sure if there's going to be another project like this, and if this is going to be the last, may this be the best that I can ever create, regardless of my circumstances.

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Dec 27, 2018 at 4:31am PST

"I worked with the Starbucks Asia Pacific team in Hong Kong on this project. I was quite nervous when they first got in touch with me because I was scared of the horrors of shipping huge artwork abroad, what more if it's 3 huge art pieces," Cabral revealed through a series of Instagram posts that explained the details of his collaboration with Starbucks.

According to Cabral, it was a relief to learn that the pieces will be used in a local branch. "I felt a little confident when they sent me the blueprint and I saw that it's going to be in a new branch of Starbucks Reserve here in Manila," he said.

That confidence was tempered by the difficulty of creating the pieces. Cabral said that the Sumatran Tiger "is probably the hardest project we ever produced to date."

"There are layers that took 7 hours to prime. And a couple of 7 hours more to apply the actual paint. For a couple of months we accepted our fate which is a never ending loop of painting, sanding and airbrushing," he said, adding that the process made him feel like Bill Murray from the film "Groundhog Day."

Cabral said he didn't even have the space to work on the project and at one point, he ran into problems financing the production. But, he said, "I think this experience makes us better artist."

"I am glad that Starbucks gave me this opportunity. It's really hard to find clients for the work that I do," Cabral said.

This "dream collaboration" for Cabral was 10 years in the making. It began with being a customer at Starbucks 6750. "I remember hoping that some day I get to post some of my works there," he said.

Cabral was also chosen as one of the ambassadors for Starbucks' "New Strong" campaign.

 

 

 

 

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I specially love this campaign because of its message. I was immediately on board when they first told me that the new tagline is “The New Strong”. I grew up in a society where the idea of strength is through physical. In elementary, strong were those who are good in sports, the athletes. I’m always among the last to get picked on any sports. I grew up with only my mom taking care of us because my dad had to work in Saudi Arabia for a long time. I don’t really have a “strong” male role model growing up. Even my closest uncle, uncle Vito, who is our neighbor is one of those really gentle men. I didn’t really grew up thinking that there’s a difference between male and female, I treat them the same. I was not brought up in toxic masculinity. Things that are creative like arts and crafts are always the subject that fascinates me. I thought it was a rural thing that men are expected to be physically strong. But it made no difference when I moved to Manila. I was thought of as gay because of how I move and how I live my life. It didn’t really help that I have a soft voice. I really didn’t care if people thought that I am because I also have a lot of friends from the LGBT community. What I don’t like about it is some “strong” men are using it to humiliate me. I have one officemate who once told me that “you are probably good at a lot of things but you are not good at being a man”. I guess even in a civilized society, people can still live like cavemen, whose idea of strength is physical strength because it’s what they use for hunting and gathering :) If you really dig deeper, creativity is a strength of the mind. The ability to piece things together. Having physical strength only play a small role because it can already be augmented by technology. A lot of menial labor now are being accomplished by robots. Even if you can’t carry a heavy material, it’s not a problem anymore because there are tools that can do it for you. I think now the world is putting more premium to creativity, a form of strength that has no limitation. #thenewstrong #starbucks #starbucksphilippines

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Jun 11, 2018 at 3:38am PDT

The new pieces are now up at the newest Starbucks Reserve store at SM North Towers, Quezon City. — LA, GMA News