Text and photos by Franchesca Lesaca
Two murals highlight the brand’s barista craft in the newest Starbucks Reserve store at Shangri-La’s The Rise in Malugay, Makati.
JP Pining’s signature style using spray paint, vibrant colors and geometric figures add character befitting the avant-garde vibe of its edifice. Quito Lopez, Starbucks’ Store Development Planning Manager says, “We chose JP because of his art style. We think it fits well with the development of the location in North Makati, as well as of Shangri-la’s.”
The murals are visual interpretations of vital facets in Starbucks’ craftsmanship: the coffee, barista skills, equipment, ambiance, and the connection between the brand and its consumer.
However challenging, Pining enjoyed the freedom he was given during the collaboration. He was free to pitch his vision for the mural and execute it with only a few touch-ups here and there, “[This project] pushed me to do my best because of course, it’s Starbucks.” Lopez further notes how easy it was for both of them to get the message across the viewers, “It was a match. We have the same vision so I think we had an easy time interpreting the artwork with the project.”
From conception, the objective was to compliment the art with the whole store experience. Pining recalls fond memories shared with his family during trips to Starbucks which established the brand as his gold standard for coffee experience. He describes his vision for the mural as a melding of his work and his subjects’, “[Coffee-making] process is a work of art. [In this project] two sides s’ya eh. Ako, pinakita ko yung work of art ko, tapos doon sa subject, makikita mo yung work of art ng barista sa paggawa ng kape. So hindi lang sya art ko, art din sya ng ibang tao na involved sa subject.” (This project has two sides. I showed my work of art, as well as the art of the barista making the coffee. So it’s not just my art anymore, it’s also the art of the people involved in the subject).
Check out Starbucks Reserve at G/F Assembly Grounds, Shangri-La’s The Rise Condominium Complex, Malugay, Makati City. For more information, follow Starbucks Philippines on Instagram at @starbucksph and JP Pining @jppining.
