Poster History 1972 - 1983
Martin Kaye
Martin Kaye, a British designer, was closely associated with Paradiso from 1972 to 1983, where he designed almost all of the posters. Kaye was not only the designer but also the printer and distributor. He screen-printed the posters in the basement of Paradiso and personally distributed them around Amsterdam, making it seem as though the city was covered with his work, despite the limited print run of around 120 copies per poster.


The work of Martin Kaye
Kaye's style was distinctive and bold, with a clean and purposeful approach: large, clear typography and often the use of iris printing for a full-color effect. The artist's name had to be large and legible, and the message had to be clear and direct. Sometimes, he used manipulated photos to emphasize the artist's image, which became an important feature of his posters. His posters were daring and eye-catching, designed to grab the attention of passersby and draw them to Paradiso. This visual approach laid the foundation for the rock 'n' roll poster culture in the Netherlands, where bold lettering and a central focus on the artist became the norm.
A larger part of Martin Kaye's work can be found on the website paradisoposters.nl. Contrary to what the name might suggest, this website is not an initiative of Paradiso, but of Ed Visser and Mark van Westervoort, who manage Martin Kaye's legacy. On the website, you can discover more about Martin Kaye's work and also purchase vintage posters.
Sources
Want to know more? Additional information can be found through the following links:
The Paradiso archive | Paradiso
A large collection of historical Paradiso Posters | Delpher
Book: Paradiso Posters 1968-2008 | J. Dietvorst and J. Hiddink
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