He has an upcoming solo show Tuesday, May 14th at the Tin Can. His brother DJ Active will be playing some records and POLYPHASE (Brian Ellis) will be performing a live set.
MAGIC BROTHERHOOD: Where did you grow
up? Could you tell us a little bit about your background and upbringing?
ALDO MONTES: I grew up and still currently
live in Escondido, East Mission and Grape Street! Still living in the
same two bedroom apartment since I was born. I'm the youngest of four. I'm
first generation born in the U.S. my family moved from Tijuana to Escondido in
1986 because my sister had cystic fibrosis and the
hospitals here had treatments to help her. My mom had her tubes
tied before I was born, and I still came out somehow.
I don't want to say I
live in a rough neighborhood, but I did see a dude get shot when I was 5
in front of my house and the friends that I would hang out with
would do some straight up hoodlum shit, but I was too much of a
whimp. While they were shoplifting CDs at the K-mart I was at my house
playing Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. I was a weird kid growing up.
In preschool I would
get sent home because I would imitate Beavis and Butthead, middle school I
would do stupid shit and did really bad in school, and high school I took the
same pre-algebra class for four years. I sucked so much, I had my friends do my
homework (shout outs to Sebastian, Victor, and Victor's little brother). I
feel like at the end of high school I had an appreciation for art. That's
when I started making beats, graffiti, and learned about photography thanks to
my friends Devin, Cindya, and David.
(Aldo's sister, mom, Aldo, brother)
MB: When/how did you get
your start with photography?
AM: At the end of high school
my friend Devin was shooting a bunch of photos with his 35mm camera and when he
developed them I was like “Oh snap! The way those look is so clear, way different
from my parents photos in our albums.” Then my homegirl Cindya and her
boyfriend would pick me up from school and she would show me framed photos and
really awesome portraits that she had done. She fucked with film, showed me the
legit side of photo, but I think it was also the first time I saw a DSLR too so
I was tripped out about that too. Also, my friend David and I went to the
same community college and would show me his photos he took at the photo
lab during our screen printing class, and that got me into taking photos too. I
bought my first 35mm Pentax k-1000 for $10. I hated the assignments in school,
I just wanted to shoot people, document the things that I'd see on a
regular basis. I won second place for the documentary competition at
school but didn't get the money because of my poor GPA. Fortunately I got
to work at the photo lab for two years as a lab tech and got to work with the
chemical processing, maintaining equipment, and learning about the different
formats. All of my work is film never, owned a digital camera.
MB: You also draw...
would you say there is a parallel or similar subject matter in your drawing and
your photo work? If not, what makes it different?
AM: My drawings are
totally parallel with my photos. With my drawings, I don't take things as
serious or try to make them look as nice. I just want to be straight to
the point, make people laugh, or be like, "Why did he draw that?" Most
of them stem from inside jokes I have with my friends, just the weird
funny shit that pops in my imagination. I feel like I can do whatever
I want with my drawings, I don't need to tell a story. It is what it is. If I
want to draw a California burrito dressed up like Boy George I can do
it, and I would feel great about it.
MB: What inspires you?
AM: My friends, TV, the
internet, the devil's lettuce, jokes, rap music, J.O. crystals, fast food, the
finest of malt liquors, trying to show people the dopest, saddest, and funny
aspects of life… that's what inspires me.
MB: Who are some of your
favorite artists?
AM: Oh man... I have so
many.
Chaz Boroquez, Mike
Giant, Peter Beste, Estevan Oriol, El Mac, Aroe, Grime, Nas, Three Six Mafia,
Twist, Mike Judge, Max Ernst, Chuck Close, So Me, Mark Drew, David
Choe, Aaron Horkey. Dang, wish I could put more.
MB: You have an upcoming
solo show, titled CHILL HARD, Tuesday May 14th at the Tin Can. First of all,
what can you tell us about the name of the show (because I think that's the
best name for an art show I've seen in a while), and what can we look forward
to seeing in this show?
AM: Thanks! Chill Hard
for me is a way of living and it's a big part of my vocabulary… It means taking
life for what it is and not stressing about the bullshit. Drink a brew, smoke a
grip of blunts and chill hard. JUST CHILL HARD. And for the all of you looking
forward to the show expect funny hamburgers drinking 40s, some
girl smoking Whitney Houston's ashes, some hood shit, people in their last
moments on earth… some really deep shit, and some funny stuff. You gotta have a
good balance of both. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone there.
and I hope you guys like it.
Thank you for this
awesome opportunity, Danica. You're awesome.
