Lolo, an art and design newsstand inspired by a donkey painter

Who is Lolo? "Excessivist painter and donkey in his spare time". At the beginning of the 20th century in Paris, some painters played a joke at the Salon des Indépendants by presenting the work of a donkey as if it were a painter of a new movement called "excessivism". The work generated interest even though it was actually made by the tail of a donkey. This story inspired two friends, Daniel and Alejandro, passionate about design and magazines to question themselves: Who decides what we consume? How do we free ourselves from consuming mostly mass trends? How do we propose something different in a world of social networks? 

They decided to set up a stand at street level to invite any passerby to purchase their magazines or coffee. Instead of finding newspaper covers or mass magazines, here the selection is specialized. Magazines of art, fashion, design, photography, writing and suddenly some unexpected discovery or recommendations from the community. The team is constantly exploring publications, both established and emerging, to discover work that inspires and enriches the reader.

Daniel Mosqueda, founder of the project, explains that a crucial part of the selection process is the incorporation of recommendations from friends and clients. The collaborative approach helps them discover publications they might have overlooked and ensures that the collection remains dynamic, diverse and aligned with the interests and preferences of their visitors. Daniel is 25 years old, an economist and passionate about art. He is in charge of content selection, administration and management, along with Alejandro who is in charge of creative direction.

Speaking of coffee, its beans are distinguished not only by their origin, grown in the heights of Cordoba, Veracruz at 1,350 meters above sea level, but also by the attention and collaboration between the roasters and the Gasperin family, who dedicate their lives to the cultivation of these beans. They have an alliance with Funky to offer a coffee with its unique flavor that also reflects the commitment to respect the land and the joint work with those who grow the coffee.

Going back to the magazines, which one to choose from among so many? All of them have been carefully chosen and their price range varies from $200 to $1000 pesos. This is Daniel's personal selection:

1. Suavee: It is a magazine that is responsible for exposing the Mexican creative scene. Its aesthetics and photography are risky and experimental, which excites us as design aficionados.
2. Obra: currently in its third volume, is a magazine that is responsible for creating an archive of contemporary Latin American art, which gives a platform to emerging artists. In addition, its creative director, Olga, is a great reference for graphic design in the current scene.
3. Interview: Founded in 1969 by Andy Warhol with the intention of linking his factory with the world of cinema, it is the bluprint of the magazine today. Something I value in the history of the magazine is that, in a world without social networks, it sought to make accessible a culture that was not part of the public spotlight at the time. In addition, it served as a safe space for artists from different creative fields to find a way of expression. 

You can visit Lolo Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm and Sundays from 9 am to 5 pm. The stand is located at Yucatán 3, Hipódromo.