Carnival

Print Shop || Location: Bolivia Branding || SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA, BOLIVIA
Tools and Supplies: Coala 12-oz. PVC, Coala Mesh 270 with Liner JM1011, Sid Titan S 320 printer

The days leading up to Lent, which is a period of penance and prayer for Catholics and some Christians between Ash Wednesday and Easter, are a time of celebration around the world. This celebration of eating, drinking, and jubilation before the repentance and fasting of Lent takes different names and forms: Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Pancake Day in the UK, and Carnival in countries including Brazil, Croatia, Belgium, and Bolivia.

One of the major Carnival celebrations in Bolivia is Tradición Carnavalera in Santa Cruz, a three-day festival with dancers, parades, costumes, live music, drinks, food, fireworks, and more. No festival, however, is complete without branding and event signage that wows. Paceña Cerveza Boliviana (a Cervecería Boliviana Nacional, Anheuser-Busch InBev in Bolivia, brand), a sponsor of the 2020 event, tapped PSP Bolivia Branding to craft stage graphics for the carnival. Working with a limited budget and strict timeline, Bolivia Branding got to work imaging mesh banners and giant PVC-molded shapes to stand out and add dimension to the stage. The shop printed graphics with a Sid Titan 320 press onto Coala PVC and mesh substrates over the course of two days, hand-welding the PVC shapes with metal tubing and completing installation over an additional two days. The bright and colorful stage made for a one-of-a-kind backdrop for thousands of festivalgoers.