Soho, London’s gastronomic epicenter, has recently welcomed a new Filipino restaurant that has been the talk of the town for two reasons. Kasa & Kin, conceptualized by the owners behind Romulo Cafe, has opened with a flair of contemporary Filipino cuisine, developed by a team that includes a Michelin-starred chef. The expansive mural that wraps the restaurant interior in kaleidoscopic patterns, harlequin imageries, and the bright plumage of an omnipresent Ibong Adarna, left guests in awe.
The artist behind the mural is a 31-year-old Filipino whom people call by his art. Kulay Labitigan is a rising visual artist and “experiential” illustrator in London with a knack for storytelling.
Born in Tayabas, Quezon, Kulay finished Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines Diliman and arrived in the UK on a scholarship grant to study MA in Narrative Environments at Central Saint Martins-University of the Arts London, one of the world’s top art and design schools.
The mural design for Kasa & Kin was specifically special for Kulay as an immigrant living in the UK. “Adarna symbolizes a multitude of meanings for different people. In Francisco Balagtas’ tale, the mythical bird was a healer of the ailing king, a reference to the many Filipino medical professionals who are in the UK’s health service. The bird is also closely associated with nesting, which comes back to the meaning of Kasa & Kin being a home. But what resonates more is the bird as a creature of flight and migration. Such powerful reflections for every Filipino and non-Filipino dining in the restaurant,” Kulay muses.
The restaurant has the Adarna drink and an Instagram Adarna mask filter, taking diners on a unique journey of senses and introspection as they enjoy Filipino cuisine.
The Making of a ‘Creative Talesmith’
Kulay’s works span nearly 15 years, exploring various media and areas like theatrical production, 3D installation arts, and illustrations. Some of his illustrations are featured in select Jollibee stores across the UK including London.
He likes to use the word “creative talesmith” to describe what he does.
Kulay grew up in Tayabas to a family of handicraft makers, farmers, and entrepreneurs. In a quaint town with deep local traditions, he spent his childhood replicating religious imagery drawn on the ceiling of the 16th century San Miguel de Arcangel Basilica and watching plays and shows in the local theater. That was when he discovered art.
At UP Diliman he specialized in industrial design, when he began designing theatrical sets, and taken under the wing of top scenographer and production designer Gino Gonzales.
In London, he was mentored by the late Filipino visual artist, David Medalla, founder of the London Biennale, and highly respected within Europe’s artistic community.
“As a ‘creative talesmith,’ I find immense joy and fulfillment in connecting dots, developing narratives, and applying them to real-world scenarios. I do believe that above anything, story is the universal language. It is the currency of our time. Sometimes, stories do not even need words to be told. From actions to events, carefully sequenced segments trigger our emotion and consciousness, shaping our understanding of our world and ultimately our being. This is how stories become transformative,” says Kulay.
“In 2015 I ventured into a creative soul searching. I packed my whole life in a 30-kilogram suitcase and hopped on a plane headed to the other side of the globe, a place I have never been to but I now call home. Studying design in London afforded me the opportunity to understand my creative voice, fine-tune my artistic style and methods, and discover that everything I have been looking for in this journey are things I already have and already am.
“This extraordinary experience made me realize that home transcends the physical and that my own roots and life story of growing up in rural Philippines — including my anecdotes as a Southeast Asian gay man and all fragments of my personal concept of home — informs my creative practice. I am proud to see that this has made my work relevant, distinct, and most importantly, a medium that connects and gives people who experience my art a sense of belonging,” explains Kulay
