The Brownmonkeys is a design collective based in Dubai. A group of multi-disciplinary artists. They consist of graphic designers, illustrators, painters, musicians, photographers and videographers.
The Brownmonkeys offer an alternative approach to contemporary art and design. The group showcases visual artists expressing themselves through multi-faceted mediums. They play with imagination, capturing the intangible, and then interpret ideas to tangible truth. Their work exhibits an art form that communicates within the subtleties of the human mind and emotion while keeping the whole work process fun and without inhibition.
The name Brownmonkeys was obviously coined from the words brown and monkeys, "primately" playful and creative or "unleashing the monkey in us.€ Brownmonkeys objectives are:
1) To share a unique concept, ideas, and skills expressed thru art.
2) To strengthen the group's concepts and views.
3) To influence the society with a unique visual expression.
Brownmonkeys believe in the idea "creativity without borders". On a lighter side, they believe Astroboy can save the world; they believe in the power of monsters, robots and Apple computers.
The Largest Artistic Collaboration and Designer Toys Exhibition in the Middle East, featuring 100 of Dubai's most creative talents and 100 customized MEGA's.
The display is called Kanto (Filipino word for street corner), a place where you see all sorts people hangout and bump to each other. This is just how we perceive and interpret people here in this part of the world. Framing it into small visual puns; fun and satirical.
Thanks to Fathima, MinD Artists and our dear friends.
MAR.01.10 TONIC GIG
Beers, pool table, snapshots. markers, spicy chicken, Tons of doodling and lots of fun. A board commissioned by Tonic Branding (a branding agency based in dubai) http://tonicdubai.blogspot.com/
DEC.21.09 The DUCTAC Mural
7 Dubai-based artists are worked away on a massive outdoor public mural at DUCTAC. Mall of the Emirates.
Artists:
Guillermo Munro
Sasan Saidi
Mark Ganzon
Danesh Mohiuddin
Joseph Manata
Fathima Mohiuddin. Photos here.
NOV.04.09 BM @ HP ENVY LAUNCH AT CLUB CAVALLI
BM was commissioned to test the new HP Envy laptop powered with Windows 7. Check how we rub shoulders with the Dubai's elite!
OCT.27.09 BROWNMONKEYS ON DUBAIONE TV
The Brownmonkeys interview at Dubai One's "Twenty Something" show. TWENTY SOMETHING showcases some of the hottest commercial and underground talent based in the UAE and the Region. Aired on October 26, UAE 20:00 / KSA 19:00 at Dubai One. Check the excerpts here!Backstage photos!
Campaign ME Magazine - The leading advertising and media magazine features the Brownmonkeys on the Inspiration Section (page 29). Go grab a copy and read all about it!
OCT.03.09 IT AINT CLOUDY WITHOUT CLOUD 88
The cloudy monster on the new Brownmonkeys gang roster, A comic yet intelligent designer/illustrator addition to the group. We welcome, CLOUD88 a.k.a Mark Ganzon.
Scroll right and see his works!
JUN.04.09 FOR MEMBERS ONLY
A collaboration with Jimbo, Team Switch DJ and Chris Calumberan. On the spot model hunt photography and live digital art plus dance, booze and lots of good looking people! Images here!
MAY.21.09 MTV ARABIA X BROWNMONKEYS
MTV Arabia and Brownmonkeys collaboration for Street Artbreak.Youtube link!
MAY.05.09 CAR ART FEST 2009
Brownmonkeys in collaboration with Jamjar made an ordinary white boring right hand drive car into a Car Monster getting eaten by the CRUNCH Monster! Check images here!
MAY.02.09 HITTING THE WALL AT THE 1ST WOMAD ABU DHABI 2009
Commissioned wall (8ft X 16ft) for WOMAD Abu Dhabi 2009. The Brownmonkeys teamed up with Pilipinas Street Plan & Ubik. 2 nights of pain-staking painting, spraying and driving.
Watch time lapse at Youtube Images here!
APR.03.09 UP IN THE SKY, ITS A BIRD. ITS A PLANE. ITS GUITAR HERO!
Rock Me Leonardo Guitar Hero design competition.
The judges said that the Brownmonkeys/Tonic guitar was by far the most colourful and energetic of all the entries! Link here!
APR.02.09 MTV ARABIA - MY NAME IS ROBOT FEATURE
Watch the MTV Arabia feature for the My Name is Robot exhibition on Youtube, and see Dogboy's remote control Rage robot go rampage!
MAR.15.09 SHARJAH BIENNIAL 9
Brownmonkeys will be participating at the Exquisite Corpse game at Sharjah Binneal 2009. Other participating artists are Manabu Ozawa, Salem of Fihkra Design, Khoulod Sharafi and Vivek Premachandran. All works will be exhibited outdoors scattered in Sharjah, UAE.
JAN.26.09 MY NAME IS ROBOT
Brownmonkeys is taking part on the exhibit of ROBOTANDSPARKS "My Name Is Robot". 30 robots were distributed to regional artists, designers, illustrators, jewelers, art directors and ad agencies who were asked to customize the robots in any which way they wanted. Be there at The Jam Jar Gallery on 19th Feb - 22nd Feb 2009.
NOV.06.08 BM to hit foreign TV
Journalist from France, Babel Productions shot a TV documentary here in Dubai about art and urban culture. Here are some behind the scene pics.
OCT.15.08 Blacksheep: The Resurrection
The Brownmonkeys and Pilipinas Street Plan act at Blacksheep's Resurrection gig. Moving pics
SEP.19.08 Brownmonkeys @ DubaiEye 103.8
Once again, the Brownmonkeys hit the radio station Dubai Eye 103.8 last Sept.13,2008. This time the show In The Frame hosted by Suzanne Radford and Alison Fordham curiously bomb the monkeys with all the questions you can imagine. Enjoy the Excerpts.
SEP.11.08 Freakin Index (It's back!)
Hot Topic: ROBOT CHICKS
A new way to play at the Brownmonkeys website. New Topic
every month, a new BM web home artwork. Freely expressed, no bull***t.
You Submit. We post it! Time to put your Ego on the Brownmonkeys website at the
FRONT PAGE! Entries will be posted randomly. ANYONE CAN JOIN!
Call for Entries. Submit 1121 x 601 pixels 72 dpi JPG artwork. email your design
at monkey@brownmonkeys.com
AUG.08.08 The Brownmonkeys does Just Kidd In It's art, fashion and music at The Apartment Lounge, Jumeirah Beach Hotel. Richie Kidd (Just Kidd In) the infamous dj from the UK will be joining a host of other jocks. BM and other artists will be exhibiting new and old stuff.
MUSIC + FASHION + ART
Brownmonkeys does Just Kidd In
DJ Just Kidd In and the crew + BM + Ubik
APR.15.08 Official Selection at the Gulf Film Festival EX:The Ex Girlfriend has been officially selected at the current Gulf Film Festival. Screening will be held at Mall of the Emirates on April 15, Tuesday at 1pm. See you there! Making of "EX:The Ex Girlfriend"
FEB.10.08 Fresh Pinkish Brown We introduce Pinkblot, a new roster from the Brownmonkeys kicking ass designer factory. He is pink, psychedelic and an arsenal of idea. Works are develishly fresh straight from his fantasy world. This is where pink becomes brown. Browse right to drool.
Brownmonkeys on DARP DARP (Dubai Artists’ Residency Programme) is a new initiative by Dubai Cultural Council for 2008. It will be part of the Art Avenue, a Dubai Shopping Festival venture.
The first of its kind, DARP is offering emerging artists from Dubai the opportunity to create artwork, engage with other artists and progress in their chosen medium, in a unique environment.
Artists will produce work at the DARP site over the course of a month. The works produced during this time will be showcased in an exhibition afterwards, as well as published in a catalogue which will be distributed in and around Dubai. The DARP will be promoted through media coverage and will invite members of the art community to attend the event. It will therefore be a platform for exposure for emerging artists, as well a challenging and exciting month.
Location of DARP: Art Avenue, Creekside, Bur Dubai
Dates: January 24th 2008 - February 24th 2008
Timings: 5-10pm
JAN.24.08 Brownmonkeys on Breast Cancer Awareness notebook series A joint venture between Five Green (urban apparel shop) and Light (stationaries), came up with a project of commissioning selected Dubai based designers to grace the cover of the Breast Cancer Awareness notebook series.
JAN.24.08 Cliche Magazine features the Brownmonkeys Cliche is a monthly zine that acts as a sheet of fusion between art and space. an exhibition of artist/designers from around the world, based on the idea of a subscription only reader availability. It's aim is to promote, connect and indulge the visual senses of perfect strangers everywhere and provide an affordable and interactive alternative to new art.
JAN.17.08 bmT01- New Brownmonkeys T-shirts Now Available 3 fresh tees sure to please your primal instinct.
Grab one. Grab all.
Available in Dubai and nearby area only. By order basis only.
For inquiries call Dogboy +97150 428 40 21 or email: monkey@brownmonkeys.com
DEC.25.07 Volume 11: A year end gig by Sandwash Volume 11 Friday 28th of December
Jimmy Dix, Movenpick Hotel
Doors open at 9:30
NOV.22.07 Biyaheng Capiz
Illustrado magazine commissioned BM for an illustration of their November issue.Now get out and grab a copy!
NOV.10.07 Brownmonkeys entry to Mini Film Festival
Mini Film Festival called in for entry to it's second annual event. The contest is joined by mixed film makers. Top Ten entries will be announced on November 20, 2007. Event Finale will be on the 29th. Of course, Brownmonkeys submitted its entry title, 'Fast Forward' - good luck
NOV.09.07 Buzz Magazine Cover Art by the Brownmonkeys
BUZZ, a youth culture magazine in Dubai commissioned the monkeys to do their cover art for the whole of month of October. Theme: Air Water Land
SEP.07.07 DESIGN
MEETS ART
The
Brownmonkeys will be exhibiting their works
at the "Design Meets Art" exhibit hosted by XVA Art
Gallery, Bastakiya Bur Dubai on Sept.
8 - Oct 4.
A new way to play at the Brownmonkeys website. New Topic
every month, a new BM web home artwork. Freely expressed, no bull***t.
You Submit. We post it! Time to put your Ego on the Brownmonkeys website at the
FRONT PAGE! Entries will be posted randomly. ANYONE CAN JOIN!
Call for Entries. Submit 1121 x 601 pixels 72 dpi JPG artwork. email your design
at monkey@brownmonkeys.com
1st Topic: BANANA
AUG.02.07 Brownmonkeys hit the tube!
Watch out for the Brownmonkeys conquer Dubai's tele in
an interview at City 7's That Women's Show on the 7th of August, 11am, replays
at 11pm. Tune in and you'll find out what's the color of urban art in Dubai!
AUG.01.07 BM chat is back!
Missed the Brownmonkeys 103.8 Dubai Eye interview? listen here or
download the mp3
Check out the photos of Pinoy
Blend Music
+ Art gig at Rocky's Cafe
JUL.26.07 Siobhan Live! with the Brownmonkeys
at Dubai Eye 103.8
Live DJ Performances from RHOM : FREEZY : MX3 :
FUNKY : AMORD with the Brownmonkeys on Saturday July 28, gates open at 7pm. FREE
ENTRY! for more info visit dubaisuperstar.com
JUL.13.07 Win
Brownmonkeys Goodies from Timeout Dubai click
here
JUN.27.07 The
Brown Project
A contemporary / urban art exhibit by the Brownmonkeys
which will open on July 7, 2007 at Five
Green, Garden home Oud Metha Dubai, UAE. Show starts at 7pm and get a chance
to win an orginal artwork on print. Freebies like stickers and button badges
will be given away in the
opening night.
JUN.27.07 What is the
brown book?
The Brown Book is a collector edition material which showcases the best works of The Brownmonkeys design collective. It is set to launch inline with The Brown Project, a contemporary / urban art exhibit which will open on July 7th in Five Green. Click map location
The Brown Book is unique because it is the first book that is officially devoted to urban art shared and collaborated by different artists and designers, specifically targeting thedesign and art community in the region. The book was designed to uplift the designculture, creating an awareness that €œart and design is a lifestyle€ pouring out to differentmediums of expression.
The book hopes to create a stir not only here in Dubai but also the international art/design scene.
Currently a graphic designer doing packaging design and ad materials. An illustrator, a person who likes to make music for fun, and a free-spirited artist after 6PM. Coming from the land of the monkey-shaped island of Philippines, Mark "Cloud88" Ganzon has joined the league of Filipino designers here in UAE to see if little monster characters can survive the searing heat of the middle eastern desert. He likes clouds.
digital addict, Graphic Designer by day, Fire Dancer by night, Illustrator in the early mornings. Loves anime, girls, big headphones, black and red and ALL things digital.
pinkblot wonders how “Kinilaw na Camel” taste, if theres any!
Landed a first job in TV Broadcast as Junior Graphic Artist and since he always wanted to be a celebrity, he got a big break when alocal comedy show was looking for extras. After a year of professional training, he left the country for a job in Riyadh and spent two antagonizing years of work, talking to walls and staring at ceilings, Finally moved in the promise land of Dubai. Currently working as Motion Graphic Designer while still trying to learn how to help solve the issues in third world countries.
Nerdy and geeky always facinated with technology. A frustrated breakdancer, and always dream of being a scientist.
Currently working as an in-house designer for a children's apparel company to pay the rent, but secretly dreams of bigger and brighter design opportunities to come; hates being stuck in a stereotype which explains the tendency to experiment with various styles when it comes to illustration and design; admits to being a trendwhore but prefers the term "inspired.€
Rollan Rodriguez also known as Dogboy is known for the prolificness of his work. He is an abstract expressionist, pop-artist, musician and sometimes a film maker. His influence are deeply rooted from early childhood cartoon characters to the great visual artists. His work is described as ubiquitous as it is and "in your face." Life experiences are his domain of expression. His style is subtle but profound. Found objects, demented photos, carton boxes, felt-tip pen, packing tape and paint are the weapon of choice. Although he is a slave worker at design studios and advertising agencies, his romance his with art and design are still at large.
Dogboy believes that he was a 1920's war robot at his early life.
