SIRIN (Kinnari)
Type Illustration Feature
Client ABACA Baking Company
Art Director Uzi Emperado
I created the 8th artwork to be featured in the ABACA coffee cups consequently becoming part of the exclusive roster of artists under the limited edition ABACA Artist Cup Collection.
Upon visiting the permanent exhibition on pre-colonial gilded adornments at the Ayala Museum in Manila, I encountered the golden Kinnari figure that was among the discovered golden treasures from Surigao del Sur in 1981. The Kinnari is a mythical hybrid bird creature from pre-colonial Philippines; they were believed to symbolize androgynous beauty and undying devotion of a lover.
In my other readings, I learned about Sirin and her sister Alkonost as the half-bird figures of joy and sorrow in western mythologies. I initially thought to create a more somber image through Sirin’s dark colors but wanted to retain the gilded decor recalling the Kinnari inspiration. Merging two largely similar mythological creatures, I illustrated a Kinnari who is probably brokenhearted from a lost love and collects flowers to cope with their grief subtly represented by their golden tears.
ABACA Artist Edition Coffee Cups Collection
Final illustration with details of flowers added for contrast.