KONG - the new designers’ hang out in Mexico

29 May 2006 Category: Events & Exhibitions, Features, Graphics, Worldwide

Let’s quickly hop to the other side of the planet, where people sing and dance, laugh loud, have beards and design funky things: Mexico! PingMag talked to none other than Dr. Alderete about a new hang-out for designers, built by a small team of graphic designers - with their bare hands. This new place is called KONG!

written by Uleshka

Doctor, could you briefly describe to our dear readers what KONG is all about?

Kong is mainly a design store and gallery that doubles as an exhibition space, a meeting place and our very own mad scientist laboratory. We don’t actually design there, but most of what we design can be seen there.

It must have been tough to move all the rocks, paint all the stones and - dear! - I heard you had more than 500 people visiting Kong that first night of the opening!

Well, you have to get your hands dirty, try new things, don’t conform with the norm and stay true to your ideas. Laughing out loud and knowing when to take life lightly is always good.

Oh, Doctor! You are so right! Now how many people are in charge of KONG?

Clarisa Moura, Quique Ollervides, Cha and me = all graphic designers or design related. We team up with Hulahula and Zoveck, too. Two very cool Mexican design groups.

So that name KONG - where does that come from? Or where is it supposed to go?

Referring to our site, I would say the name “Kong” captivates. It evokes the King of the Apes, wild sex, the cumbia club in an alley close to Blanquita theater or a whole battalion of rough female cops. Thus, with free interpretations of what “Kong” means, these guys set out to give it color and poster dimensions. But I insist, it evokes something drenched in sex. Sexual, smelly or just “sexy” as they say in TV.

Sergio Mora left the penis hanging in a childish friendly manner. Neasden Control Centre yanked it off violently instead. In Oscar Reyes’ “Kongal” we can see one of the girls that sparked most of my teenage passions: Rosita Bouchot. Erotically out of reach, our Mexploitation version of the girl next door. Surely she ended up in some politician’s house, one who resembled Urko. Many vedettes and strippers fancied golden cages. Ugh, don’t tell me you don’t remember Urko! Apes had kick ass names didn’t they?: Kong, Urko, Zaius and of course the unforgettable and homely Gorgo. We are very fond of them because we surely know someone exactly alike. And so we could spend hours chatting in the “Kong” design store and gallery. Joining the dots, creating conspiracy theories, having a drink and listening to good music without holding back, without restrictions, discovering new and old ways of expressing ideas…

I see…. smelly sexy graphic design with alcohol! Good prescription, Doctor! Could I have a look at your very nice exhibition catalogue?

If you want one, we sell it at our store on our website.

Now what can we expect from KONG in the future?

We would like to see Kong grow, nurtured by the collaboration of many local and foreign designers. It is a place where designers can do book presentations, poster shows and whatever they set their minds to do. Every designer who has a fresh and interesting proposal design-wise is always warmly welcomed by us in Mexico.

Thank you very much for introducing KONG! Now everyone: next holiday ticket to Mexico and let’s hear some noise!

20 Comments

1. Congrats

   Looks great. Continue with the cool projects.

   From another friendly monkey Aap!

   Posted by: Robert on May 29th, 2006 at 10:20 pm

2. Grande jorge saludos desde argentina!!

   Posted by: hT on May 30th, 2006 at 9:36 am

3. Off the hook!
   I’m inspired by you guys already.

   Posted by: Pool on June 7th, 2006 at 12:10 pm

4. KONG its totally awesome, you better come here to mexico and check it out by yourself, it`s all good!!! me encanta ir a la tienda, jajaja.

   Posted by: Louie Surf on June 9th, 2006 at 10:48 am

5. IM-PRE-SIO-NAN-TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE !!!!!!!!!!!!

   Posted by: Georgina on June 12th, 2006 at 5:48 am

6. Chicos: ESTO ES UN FLAH, NO PUEDO NI HABLAR !!!!!! Morí, morí, morí, morí, de amor, de extrañura y de felicidad.

   p.d: La vida (a veces) es justa y nos da éstos momentos, que dure “par toujours”.

   Posted by: Georgina on June 12th, 2006 at 5:50 am

7. pingkong i like both!

   Posted by: Inversarium on June 13th, 2006 at 10:31 am

8. ping kong, amigos!
   la tienda luce genial desde acá (y eso que estoy lejos)

   Posted by: Anonymous on June 20th, 2006 at 1:32 am

9. ¡Qué maravilla!
   Eso si es saber hacer cosas con la platica.

   Posted by: Truchafrita on July 5th, 2006 at 9:18 am

10. Qué chido es ver a varios de mis héroes reunidos haciendo algo tan fregón. Pa qué no me invitaron? ya ven?

    Posted by: RoninYorch on July 5th, 2006 at 4:20 pm

11. La tienda está fnatástica, tiene de todo un poco y la mayoría son cosas que a mi me encantan, hasta las bolsitas donde uno se lleva su compra están fantásticas, felicidades por el concepto y muhco éxito, ojalá un día pueda contribuir a su colección de carteles.

    Posted by: Kinstlet on July 19th, 2006 at 9:06 am

12. Caray, se ve preciosa la tienda (por fuera), van 3 veces que voy a medio día (dicen que abren desde las 11), y nunca está abierto, espero tener suerte pronto, ya les platicaré.

    Posted by: Nomberguan on October 5th, 2006 at 2:24 am

13. Getabletz! From Israel: WANNA BE IN MEXICO ONE DAY!

    Posted by: Gersh'on Sschvartzblat on November 6th, 2006 at 6:54 am

14. ¿Donde se ubica la tienda?

    Posted by: YamiYami on July 17th, 2007 at 11:17 pm

15. ke buena galeria y ke buenos trabajos se as desarrollado desde tus inicios
    aplicando mas tecnicas
    los articulos ke venden ai se ven bien chidos
    ke buenos carteles

    Posted by: dac-pac ramirez on January 15th, 2008 at 11:42 am

16. Looks great. Continue with the cool projects.

    From another friendly monkey Aap!

    Posted by: kurye on February 23rd, 2008 at 8:59 am

17. en guzel sohbet odalari burada tikla gir iceri ne duruyorsun

    Posted by: goruntulu sohbet on August 6th, 2011 at 4:14 am

18. I really would like to learn more information about your business, what is it and why is it important.

    Posted by: christian louboutin on November 10th, 2011 at 6:36 am

19. KONG - the new designers’ hang out in Mexico good post315

    Posted by: air multiplier on April 20th, 2012 at 5:57 pm

20. KONG - the new designers’ hang out in Mexico good post1769

    Posted by: bladeless fan on April 21st, 2012 at 8:10 pm

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