Inside the weird and wonderfully subversive home of Gorillaz where iconic band are brought to life
HOUSE OF KONG Inside the weird and wonderfully subversive home of Gorillaz where iconic band are brought to life
GORILLAZ: HOUSE OF KONG
Copper Box Arena, London
★★★★★
IN a discreet corner of London's Olympic Park, you'll find a vast, dingy looking metal warehouse.
The word KONG is picked out in big red capital letters above a menacing statue of Pazuzu, a demon-god entity from ancient Mesopotamia, only this one is unceremoniously covered in stickers.
3
A new exhibition is open and celebrates 25 years of Gorillaz, the legendary virtual band
Credit: Gorillaz
3
The House of Kong brings the band to life, and there are surprises in store for visitors
Credit: Gorillaz
Welcome to House Of Kong, the endlessly weird and wonderfully subversive home of Gorillaz.
You may think of 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs and Noodle as a virtual band — product of the fevered minds of musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett.
But this immersive exhibition, which opened its doors yesterday at the Copper Box Arena, is the physical embodiment of their 25-year history.
So visitors get the sights, the sounds and, er, the smells that created the legend.
Having been given a sneak preview, I was sworn to secrecy about many of the surprises in store, but I can give you a few juicy details.
With headphones on, I am invited by a tour guide down a dimly lit, wood-panelled corridor with a sign at the end — again in bold capitals — which implores: 'REJECT FALSE ICONS'.
The first room I enter is devoted to what is called the 'miscreation' of Gorillaz, through Hewlett's dazzling drawings.
I see how the cartoon band's final line-up was arrived at, how a whole world was built around them and finally how they came to life through animation.
I hear the story of their wild ride into the world of music — beginning with the self-titled debut album (2001), then continuing with Demon Days (2005), Plastic Beach (2010) and so on.
This part of the exhibition is fascinating but relatively normal. It didn't quite prepare me for the bizarre (secret) scenes about to unfold.
Official music video for the track Humility from the Gorillaz's newest album The Now Now
Without giving too much away, I get lost in total darkness at one point and have to be rescued by an assistant with a torch.
Shocking
pink
At least a panic attack didn't kick in — and I'm putting it down to a bit of Murdoc Niccals mischief.
I can also add that I was very impressed with the large, original model of Plastic Beach, the shocking-pink floating Gorillaz HQ in the South Pacific made of humankind's detritus.
And by the time I exited through the gift shop (in time-honoured Banksy-inspired fashion) and emerged blinking in the sunlight, I felt like I was ready for a lie-down (although not in a darkened room!)
On the poster, Murdoc describes it as 'an exhibition like no other.' I would add the words, 'and then some'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘She could be very smart' – Templegate's NAP to burst through under top jockey
Scroll down for his selections TEMPLEGATE'S TIPS Horse racing tips: 'She could be very smart' – Templegate's NAP to burst through under top jockey TEMPLEGATE takes on Tuesday's racing confident of building the bank for next week's Ebor meeting at York. Back a horse by clicking their odds below. SILENT CITY (4.07 Lingfield, nap) Roger Varian's filly looked potentially smart when bolting up by nearly four lengths at Windsor two starts ago. She had an inexperienced jockey in the plate when she allowed a useful rival too much rope at Hamilton last time, but she still pulled miles clear of the rest. With Silvestre De Sousa back on board, she can return to winning ways. NOBLE HORIZON (7.10 Hamilton, nb) Bumped into a useful horse at Newmarket two starts ago. He made no mistake in a weaker race at Leicester 26 days ago and he can go on a roll now for his top stable. NOVAK (7.40 Hamilton, treble) Came back to form with a good second at Musselburgh last time. He is a C&D winner and is still on a winning mark. VALOR SPIRIT (2.15 Carlisle, Lucky 15) He ran three nice races on maidens and goes handicapping off a fair mark with a top apprentice taking off 5lb. Templegate's tips CARLISLE 2.15 Valor Spirit 2.45 One Of Our Own 3.15 Curran 3.50 Ice Sovereigns 4.25 Reenie's Dream 5.00 Homeland LINGFIELD 2.30 Semser 3.00 Al Joory 3.32 Perfect Panda 4.07 Silent City (nap) 4.42 Foinix 5.17 Dogged HAMILTON 5.40 Happier 6.10 Star Noir 6.40 Golden Horse 7.10 Noble Horizon (nb) 7.40 Novak (treble) 8.10 Shabu Shabu 8.40 Temper Trap FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Inside the weird and wonderfully subversive home of Gorillaz where iconic band are brought to life
The exhibition promises to be 'like no other' and it certainly is a unique experience HOUSE OF KONG Inside the weird and wonderfully subversive home of Gorillaz where iconic band are brought to life GORILLAZ: HOUSE OF KONG Copper Box Arena, London ★★★★★ IN a discreet corner of London's Olympic Park, you'll find a vast, dingy looking metal warehouse. The word KONG is picked out in big red capital letters above a menacing statue of Pazuzu, a demon-god entity from ancient Mesopotamia, only this one is unceremoniously covered in stickers. 3 A new exhibition is open and celebrates 25 years of Gorillaz, the legendary virtual band Credit: Gorillaz 3 The House of Kong brings the band to life, and there are surprises in store for visitors Credit: Gorillaz Welcome to House Of Kong, the endlessly weird and wonderfully subversive home of Gorillaz. You may think of 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs and Noodle as a virtual band — product of the fevered minds of musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett. But this immersive exhibition, which opened its doors yesterday at the Copper Box Arena, is the physical embodiment of their 25-year history. So visitors get the sights, the sounds and, er, the smells that created the legend. Having been given a sneak preview, I was sworn to secrecy about many of the surprises in store, but I can give you a few juicy details. With headphones on, I am invited by a tour guide down a dimly lit, wood-panelled corridor with a sign at the end — again in bold capitals — which implores: 'REJECT FALSE ICONS'. The first room I enter is devoted to what is called the 'miscreation' of Gorillaz, through Hewlett's dazzling drawings. I see how the cartoon band's final line-up was arrived at, how a whole world was built around them and finally how they came to life through animation. I hear the story of their wild ride into the world of music — beginning with the self-titled debut album (2001), then continuing with Demon Days (2005), Plastic Beach (2010) and so on. This part of the exhibition is fascinating but relatively normal. It didn't quite prepare me for the bizarre (secret) scenes about to unfold. Official music video for the track Humility from the Gorillaz's newest album The Now Now Without giving too much away, I get lost in total darkness at one point and have to be rescued by an assistant with a torch. Shocking pink At least a panic attack didn't kick in — and I'm putting it down to a bit of Murdoc Niccals mischief. I can also add that I was very impressed with the large, original model of Plastic Beach, the shocking-pink floating Gorillaz HQ in the South Pacific made of humankind's detritus. And by the time I exited through the gift shop (in time-honoured Banksy-inspired fashion) and emerged blinking in the sunlight, I felt like I was ready for a lie-down (although not in a darkened room!) On the poster, Murdoc describes it as 'an exhibition like no other.' I would add the words, 'and then some'.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Kieran Shoemark is reunited with Juddmonte which rubbishes the specuation he was sacked after Field Of Gold defeat
MATT CHAPMAN Kieran Shoemark is reunited with Juddmonte which rubbishes the specuation he was sacked after Field Of Gold defeat THE truth. There it was, staring me in the face. Many of you will have seen one of my favourite movies, Jerry Maguire. There's a moment in the film when Jerry sees the light and creates his own 'mission statement'. It was like he had been hit by a thunderbolt. 1 Matt Chapman hopes Kieran Shoemark has a big winner at Haydock Credit: Alamy On Thursday morning I experienced exactly that feeling, a moment of OMG, when jockey bookings were revealed for today's racing. It was a thing of beauty. Like two long-lost lovers reuniting. Kieran Shoemark riding OKEECHOBEE (3.00) for owners Juddmonte in the Group 3 Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock. Even more significantly, in the very same race, Rossa Ryan has been jocked up on another Juddmonte horse, Detain, for John and Thady Gosden. Yes people, that's the Detain that only Shoemark has won a race on this season. Indeed, that's the Detain that has only ever been victorious with Shoemark on top. Some, of course, tried to make out Juddmonte got rid of Shoemark after the now infamous defeat of Field Of Gold in the 2,000 Guineas. The same Field Of Gold that didn't quicken down the dip at Newmarket like he subsequently did on a conventional track. The Rose Of Lancaster jockey bookings puts the Shoemark ditching theory to bed once and for all. Shoemark has a 33 per cent wins to rides strike-rate for Juddmonte in 2025 and a 35 per cent strike-rate in 2024, when he banged in nine victories from 26 rides. That's decent by anyone's standards. In a short space of time his big hits for the organisation included Field Of Gold (Craven and Solario), Zanzoun (Nell Gwyn), Lead Artist (Darley and Thoroughbred Stakes) and Tilsit (Summer Mile). I can't tell you how much I hope Okeechobee runs a huge one this afternoon live on ITV. Harry Charlton's six-year-old has been very hard to train and has only raced eight times. But at his peak rating of 113 he would have an each-way chance. He looked very good when landing the 2024 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown, seeing off a talented pair in Desert Hero and Israr. This season the son of Time Test has not been at his best, getting stuffed at both Kempton and Newbury when behind the re-opposing Royal Dubai. But Okeechobee is not devoid of talent and it's not impossible he can put his difficulties behind him. It's a belter of a race, though, as it also includes Haatem and Military Order. The former scored at Royal Ascot and was once third behind Notable Speech in the 2,000 Guineas and the latter was previously sent off at just 9-2 for the 2023 Derby! It's not just Shoemark who has the chance to make headlines on ITV. Billy Loughnane has been a breath of fresh since he banged in his first winner as a jockey aboard Swiss Rowe at Wolverhampton in November 2022. Now don't get me wrong here, Loughnane is not just some smiley, happy boy. He's changed a lot in the last three years, and now has a real air of confidence and cheek. So it's no real surprise that Godolphin's Charlie Appleby seems to be a fan. I could imagine Appleby and Loughnane being a perfect combination in the future. Right now, William Buick remains Appleby's star rider, and the situation won't change in the near future. Matt Chapman's ITV Racing tips Ascot 1.35 Toca Madera 2.10 Dancing In Paris 2.45 Dream Harder (NAP) 3.20 Zayer 3.55 Tenability 4.30 EBT'S Guard Haydock 2.25 Protest each-way 3.00 Okeechobee each-way Newmarket 3.40 Dance To The Music But Loughnane is getting chances to show what he can do, and that includes when taking the ride on unbeaten DANCE TO THE MUSIC (3.40) in the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket. The daughter of Dubawi and sister to Group 1 sprinter Space Blues looked good under Loughnane on debut, but that was a long time ago when she was suggested as a fancy for the Albany at Royal Ascot. Now she needs to show she's really promising. More importantly in some ways, Loughnane has arguably the biggest ride of his career so far tomorrow aboard Godolphin star Rebel's Romance in the Group 1 Hoppegarten Westminster 135th Grosser Preis von Berlin. The dual Breeders' Cup hero and winner of over £10million in prize money was last seen finishing third in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. On paper he should take all the beating and provide Loughnane with his first Group 1 success. This is huge, massive. Of course, there is lots to look forward to in the coming weeks with York's Ebor Festival not far away. I'll be cheering for, Okeechobee. As Jerry would say, 'Show Shoe the money'. Yeeehaaa! FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
