This summer season, Puerto Rican artist Unhealthy Bunny has been taking on El Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot for a 30-date residency for a musical second that’s as historic as it’s culturally related for the Caribbean state. Whereas this isn’t a shock transfer for a musician who has at all times been clear in regards to the robust ties he holds along with his native island, it seems like an unprecedented inventive transfer and one which speaks to artist Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio’s dedication to his nation and its folks, traditions and tradition.
Beginning in July and operating till 14 September 2025, it has been calculated that the 30-date residency (titled ‘No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí’, I Don’t Need to Depart Right here) alone introduced $200m into the native economic system (elevating Puerto Rico’s GDP by 0.15%) with 400,000 folks coming to San Juan for the occasion, and early tickets reserved for Puerto Rico residents.
The sold-out present encompasses a set by long-term collaborator Adrian Martinez, Co-Founder and Head of Artistic for LA-based design company Sturdy, providing a visible tribute to Puerto Rico via panorama, vegetation, and vernacular structure.
We communicate to Martinez to have a peek behind the scenes of the Unhealthy Bunny Puerto Rico residency.
Adrian Martinez on creating Unhealthy Bunny’s Puerto Rico residency
(Picture credit score: Kevin Mazur/Getty Pictures)
Wallpaper*: How has your work with Unhealthy Bunny creatively advanced over time?
Adrian Martinez: It’s been an evolution of working with him and the group on reside content material / visuals, inventive path in some initiatives and now engaged on the general present on a bigger scale.
W*: What have been the important thing moments in your collaboration?
AM: We’ve been lucky sufficient to be concerned with a whole lot of reveals over the previous few years. We labored as a part of the inventive group for P FKN R in 2021, El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo and World’s Hottest Tour in 2022, The Grammys and Coachella in 2023, Most Wished Tour in 2024 and, now, The Residency.
The present opens with a sequence of information about Puerto Rico proven on a big display behind the stage: ‘San Juan is among the oldest cities within the Americas. It was based in 1521’
(Picture credit score: Kevin Mazur/Getty Pictures)
W*: How a lot involvement did Unhealthy Bunny have within the remaining end result?
AM: The present could be very a lot a mirrored image of him all through each bit. I received’t go into the method itself as a result of that’s personal however I’ll say he’s throughout each bit. It is extremely a lot his fingerprint.
W* Are you able to inform me about your personal expertise of Puerto Rico?
AM: I’ve been in a position to spend so much of time in Puerto Rico now – working with artists, attending to know the tradition, making a few of my most valued friendships, touring the island. It is among the most particular locations on earth, and I worth these experiences closely. I’m grateful for it and sit up for studying, seeing and experiencing extra.
(Picture credit score: Kevin Mazur/Getty Pictures)
W*: Unhealthy Bunny as an artist, and this residency particularly, embody a really particular connection to Puerto Rico. How does the design for the present mirror the artist’s ethos?
AM: The present could be very a lot a mirrored image of him as an individual. Nevertheless, it’s definitely supposed to mirror the identification of his folks as a complete. And, for many who are available from different components of the world, it very fantastically places his island’s tradition on show for all to see.
W* How is the set design showcasing the traditions and spirit of Puerto Rico? Are you able to give me some examples?
AM: The mountain displays how alive the island is when it comes to its ecosystem. The Flamboyan’ tree is seen generally throughout the island and provides a stupendous splash of color throughout a lot of Puerto Rico. The plantain timber are additionally consultant of a particularly vital crop to the folks of the island and past. The home occasion aspect additionally factors to its personal set of vitality and traditions in Puerto Rico.
W*: The standard Puerto Rican home is such a key aspect of the stage; I’ve seen folks commenting on social media that it seems to be precisely like the home they grew up in. It seems to be extremely lifelike and detailed. Are you able to inform me extra about this aspect of the set, the way it was conceived and developed, and what design particulars are key to this a part of the set, for you and the artist?
AM: This a part of the set design was dealt with nearly fully by a group of native scenic artwork administrators, in order that they had been in a position to pull from a whole lot of their very own experiences and factors of view, to create the sensation of being in an genuine residence on the island. Goes with out saying, but it surely was completely nailed.
(Picture credit score: Kevin Mazur/Getty Pictures)
W*: How do the artists on stage work together with the home – what function does it play within the present?
AM: Some, not all, artists who’re invited to carry out on the present come out and in via the home. They can carry out within the entrance yard or go on prime to the roof and ship their set. It’s fairly cool as a result of they’ve a whole lot of room to maneuver round and get near audiences in several components of the room. It’s a full-on home occasion present after present.
(Picture credit score: Kevin Mazur/Getty Pictures)
W*: For the stage, you will have created a full mountain panorama full with vegetation – are you able to inform me extra in regards to the components that compose it, and the way this set is used?
AM: Relating to the vegetation, this all got here collectively in a full group collaboration with the native scenic artwork path group, who gave the greenery an immense quantity of element. As soon as the stage was accomplished, we had a plantain farm on stage proper, a ‘Flamboyan’ tree on stage left, a small cave on the prime of the mountain, and a billboard set into the mountain itself. Over the course of the present, every stage has its devoted set of moments that come into play.
W*: Had been there any exterior references or inspirations, components you checked out to tell these designs? What does your moodboard for this mission appear to be?
AM: The moodboard is DEEP. We at all times accomplish that a lot analysis and pay a ton of consideration to every little thing occurring in relation to any artist’s rollout as we’re engaged on a present with the intention to keep as true and in step with the inventive as attainable. Moreover, we’re trying a lot past reference web sites, going via books and different tangible sources of historic and graphical info.
(Picture credit score: Kevin Mazur/Getty Pictures)
W*: It is a long-term residency in a single place – what function did this arrange play in the best way you conceived the set? Does it provide you with extra freedom in comparison with a set that should journey and adapt to completely different phases?
AM: Rather more freedom is granted. From the dimensions of the design to the quantity of scenic components included, the display mounted overhead, the audio being mounted fully out of sight – this present is really in contrast to some other with options {that a} touring present may by no means execute.
(Picture credit score: Kevin Mazur/Getty Pictures)
Supply: Wallpaper
