Gorilla Barfare

When 'The Local' owner spoke about his then-new ground floor bar that sees the likes of folks from the area, it all kicked off with a simple pun. When these easy drinkers from the neighborhood 'infiltrate' the space, what would they call it? What would their accent be, how would they pronounce it? From the name to the logo, infusing the space with street-style visuals, stickering, designing the brand’s collateral and more - experience our design journey below.

2018

Branding, Graphic Design, Illustration

Identity design

Seen sporting their uniforms, Zad the kid (in purple - housekeeping staff), Roh (in green - barfare specialist), Neat Kaur (off white and blue camo - floor staff) and Mr. Dabu (the manager) wore many hats after their shifts at the space. After the humanising process, they hangout in the concrete jungle, lividly discussing bad traffic, road rage and other farfetched issues in the city - a bunch of rotoscoped elements if you ask us.

Visit mmm.gorillabarfare.con - all the coasters are ready to be stolen! The backs of these marvels carried quotes from outspoken humans and rebels from different generations. Using a magazine-style large format print, the menu is all about experiencing vivid pictures and urban moods before placing your order.

Meanwhile a human is spotted, trying to read a book by David O'Doherty as she is being served a flaming pizza with a shooter. This is followed by a picture of a bamboo cutlery holder designed by the Spoilt Ideas crew - all just to please the animals who ventured into the space.

The many avatars of the mascot, typography and logo. Inspired by Godzilla, Rambo, Planet of the Apes (the original), Kill Bill and other animal/human film classics, the logotype mixes vigorous brush strokes with a typeface from the Bauhaus era. The hand-drawn mascot is an amalgamation of his many appendages - from the snapback, bandana, earrings/bracelet, the wayfarers/shoes, to his jacket and sling.

The exquisite life of General Mogambo & Harambe

Hailing from Jah Army, the late General Mogambo was a collector of all things animated. While munching on pizzas and going bananas he led the PAC-MAN Ghost troupe who were instrumental in the Gorilla Barfare movement. His eloquent taste in punk rock was evident as he painted the town yellow in his Har-Amby. You may notice that he was highly inspired by graphic novels and comics, particularly, Watchmen. At the end it was that darn brain freeze which caught him off guard in a Frozen Margarita standoff.

Lovingly called Har-Amby after his visit to India, General Mogambo’s souped-up Ambassador is nothing less than extravagant. Sporting a sunshine yellow, she emerged from a squeaky-clean avatar to an avid sticker collecting archetype. A juicy cocktail; she tells her tales with pride as she wears a concoction of multicultural film titles, early MTV hits/shows, arcade games and surf antics. She was passed down from the cultured General, to Harambe in Cincinnati and eventually made its way to the metal heads back in Bangalore, India.

Little Harambe began his journey in Brownsville, Texas and was named by Dan Van Coppenolle a local area counsellor who won dibs at a naming contest sponsored by the garden folk. His eureka moment came about while listening to the song "Harambe (Working Together for Freedom)" by Rita Marley, widow of Bob Marley. After rustling along and making a splash, our majestic silverback moved to Cincinnati to salsa with a new social group. Sadly, his beat fell silent as he met his tragic end to humans - killed just one day after his 17th birthday.

Our humble tribute to him is displayed as a screen-print at the space. Rotoscoped and ready! Watch the Spoilt Ideas crew holler in a mini celebration on Harambe’s birthday in 2018.

Did you know that hip-hopping primates usually exhibit their extraordinary bicycling, base jumping, and soy-milk-drinking prowess on Brigade Road, MG Road, and near the Vidhana Soudha? Have you noticed troops of city-savvy gorillas seamlessly moving with you in the city? Watch the SI crew transform the bar's expansive walls into their imaginative canvases.

With the wall-paintings, find larger than life comic-book collages, bump shoulders with cuties and rogues at the restrooms and don't miss the wooden signage as you step out. Viva la Gorilla Barfare
#makesalsanotwar