Artist Hendra Arkan
Meet Hendra Arkan from Yogyakarta, Indonesia – the artist behind a series of illustrations displayed on our coffee packaging. He beautifully mingles traditional cultural motifs with the modern medium and style to tell the fascinating story of the origins of our coffee.
With a background in science and a passion for art, Hendra has recently explored more experimental and conceptual approaches in his work. His style blends digital and manual techniques, emphasising art as a bridge between modern and traditional ways of life. Much of his work addresses issues affecting the communities where he grew up, with a particular focus on human connections with nature.
For our Indonesian coffee series, Hendra created three illustrations, each telling a story unique to its origin and cherished by the local community. Each illustration represents an iconic and endangered animal species from protected forest areas adjacent to coffee farms. These coffees contribute to the conservation of the depicted species and their forest habitats through wildlife-friendly coffee programs, traceability technology, and direct conservation efforts.
The primary inspiration for this series comes from traditional batik patterns, one of Indonesia’s most significant traditional art forms. By incorporating batik, Hendra celebrates Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage. Specifically, the artwork for Kerinci coffee features traditional batik motifs from the region near Mount Kerinci in Sumatra. The design draws from local patterns and includes the word “Ngupai” in a local script, symbolising “to drink coffee,” an essential part of the area's cultural identity.
Hendra’s interdisciplinary approach highlights cultural diversity, local wisdom, and community engagement.
