Cobonpue designs tokens for APEC leader

Kenneth Cobonpue
(Photo from APEC 2015 website)

A sculpture called “Sama-sama”, Filipino word for together will be given as souvenirs to world leaders attending the Leaders’ Summit at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) next week.

The sculptures were created by world-renowned designer Kenneth Cobonpue. Sama-sama are made of brass in colors of pale silver, warm copper and yellow gold, a symbolism for diversity. The souvenirs were covered in glass and encased in hand-made metal and palm spine with brass handles.

(Photo from APEC 2015 website)

Sama-sama “represent unity, partnership and cooperation among the member economies,” Malacañang said.

Cobonpue is also the creative director of APEC’s leaders’ welcome reception. He designed the set that will be used for the leaders’ dinner.

Using rice terraces as inspiration, Cobonpue designed a circular stage with grasses on the middle and rattan-made chairs inspired by blades of grass. The chairs were based on Cobonpue’s own design, the Yoda chair.

(Photo from APEC 2015 website)

“I wanted to transform the whole space into a huge outdoor garden. Part of the challenge was how to transform the coldness and immensity of the arena and turn it into something that’s warm and cozy,” Cobonpue said in an interview with Philippine Star.

“Probably my most iconic and well-known piece, the original Yoda chair does not have armrests or wheels. The ones to be used by the economic leaders, however, will have both. I designed the Yoda chair to swivel because the program was going to happen over 360 degrees. It was important for the leaders to be able to swivel their chair so that they could follow the program,” Cobonpue said in the same report.