The Story:
“Once there were 2 bunnies, Lila from the East and Biga from the West. As the sun rises from the East, Lila leaves her home, her friends, her families, journeying into the West with only her dreams to fuel her forward. As the sun sets, she finds herself in the City of Angels, where buildings are big, land is big, food portions are big, and most of all, anyone can dream big and be big. Here is where she meets Biga.

Lila finds Biga strange. They struggle to connect. This puzzles Lila as she knows they are the same species. Biga teaches Lila to survive in the big city, to be brave, to think like the other bunnies in the West; to act big, to talk loud, to demand rights. Lila finds Biga’s arrogance unacceptable. Biga finds Lila’s reserved daintiness to be FOB (Fresh off the Boat). Night and day, they fight about ethics, culture, religion. Lila insists on modesty while Biga reminds Lila to embrace the FREEDOM this land has to offer. As both bunnies continue to struggle, their differences somehow inspire other bunnies to converse.”

Designer Mel Lim pays homage to both bunnies by recreating their lives in this piece called “BUNNYZILLA! LA LUCHA DE DOS MONSTRUOS.” Letterpress brings out the intensity of both bunny lives through every impression taken on the vintage Vandercook.

About Aardvark Los Angeles Loteria:
Aardvark Letterpress Fine Art Editions takes a 600-year-old technology traditionally relegated to the commercial world and applies it to the world of fine arts. Using the letterpress to create dazzling new work from an eclectic array of artists, Aardvark is forging a 21st century model of Art, Community and Commerce.

Since 1968, Aardvark Letterpress has been the most highly regarded letterpress business in Los Angeles. From its headquarters in the historic artists’ colony across from MacArthur Park, sandwiched between the West and East sides of the city, Aardvark has always been a melting pot: bringing together the famous and infamous; budding talents and master craftsmen; fine and graphic artists; people of all ages, ethnicities, and economic levels: in short, a clientele as diverse as its city.

Aardvark Letterpress Fine Art Editions owners Brooks and Cary Ocon worked closely with art director/designer Rick von Dehl and co-curator Lisa Jane Persky to create a 40th Anniversary project that would represent the full scope of the Aardvark Letterpress business.