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Bassline logo

Bassline

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Club Paradiso

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Indiestad

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Kosmos

Sugar mountain logo

Sugar Mountain

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Super-Sonic Jazz

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Ticket to the Tropics

Paradiso TikTok
Bekijk in het Nederlands

Poster History 1990 - 2000

The 1990s marked a new phase in Paradiso's poster culture. The advent of desktop publishing and digital printing techniques became clearly visible in the posters of this era.

The freedom Paradiso gave designers ensured that each poster became a unique artistic expression. This stood in contrast to the idea of a uniform house style. This approach gave the posters a dynamic and eclectic character, matching the diversity of Paradiso's programming.

In the 1990s, Paradiso’s poster design evolved into an art form in its own right. Fueled by technological advancements, musical diversity, and an experimental approach, the posters became an integral part of Paradiso’s identity. They went beyond mere publicity, serving as cultural commentary and artistic expression. This period laid the foundation for a rich tradition of visual design that continues to this day.

Happy Mondays Paradiso

The 1990s were marked by immense diversity in the music scene, with Paradiso playing a central role. From grunge to techno, hip-hop to reggae, the program was versatile and innovative. This versatility was reflected in the posters, which often experimented with various styles and materials. For dance nights like Paradisco and Bassline, Experimental Jetset designed minimalist, typographic posters reflecting the emerging club culture. Their work used typography as imagery, featuring perforated flyers that could be stored in diaries, a playful nod to the functionality of print. The designs mirrored the sleek, cool aesthetic of house and techno culture.

Bassline agenda

Visual language

Hip-hop and R&B, on the other hand, developed their own visual language during the same period. Designers used drawings and photography to retain a sense of authenticity and humor. The Bassline logo, for example, became a recognizable symbol for these events, playfully referencing American hip-hop culture. Posters for rock and alternative bands reflected the rawness and energy of these genres. A notable example is the Red Hot Chili Peppers poster, featuring a simple red chili pepper. Its graphic simplicity and playful association illustrate the power of minimalism in creating a strong visual statement.

Poster Selectie 90

Experimental Jetset

Since 1995, Experimental Jetset has been responsible for designing Paradiso’s periodic program posters, flyers, and brochures. You can view numerous examples and find background information on their designs on Experimental Jetset’s website.

Learn more about Experimental Jetset
Paradiso Overzichtsposter

Trends and limitations

Paradiso's poster designs also reflected broader cultural and social trends. The 1990s were a time when subcultures like grunge and rave were at their peak. Designers tapped into these movements, using elements such as graffiti-inspired typography for hip-hop and psychedelic patterns for electronic music. At the same time, the posters served as branding for Paradiso itself, bringing its identity as a "clubhouse for contemporary culture" to the streets of Amsterdam.

While technology provided new opportunities, there were also limitations. Computers of the time had limited memory, meaning that resolution and detail in designs were not yet comparable to today’s standards. This led to creative solutions, such as the use of rough pixels and simple graphic forms, giving a distinctive visual effect to many posters from this era. This was especially evident in the works of Jongema, who struck a balance between manual work and digital production.

Sources

Want to know more? Find additional information via the links below:

Het Paradiso archive | Paradiso
A large collection of historical Paradiso posters | Delpher
Book: Paradiso Posters 1968-2008 | J. Dietvorst en J. Hiddink
Archive Experimental Jetset | Experimental Jetset

Our archive is never complete. Would you like to add or update something on this page? Email us at: [email protected]