Located in the east part of Amsterdam, The Petersburg Project Space was gallery space organized by Gerben Kruk, Su Tomeson, Monique Verhoeckx & Maria Heijdendael, showing primarily photographic and video works. In November 2008, I began working with them to establish a cohesive identity, which was presented in the form of A5-sized invitations for their events.
The resulting look was a direct reflection of the unique space, which was situated in the tip of a triangular building block.
Nº 1
Europa Neurotisch
22.11 – 06.12
Nº 5
Videonacht, designed with Per Törnberg
12.09
This was done by having the page divided diagonally, with all textual information contained within one half. The text was also set diagonally. The triangular form created, along with the diagonal type was also a subtle gesture to Constructivist graphic design, in relation to the name ‘Petersburg’.
This project served as the basis for an outstanding working relationship with Joos Wiersinga, a local printer in Amsterdam also known as Joosmooi.
Nº 3
There, part 2
25.04 – 16.05
Nº 2
Van het kastje en de muur
13.12 – 20.12
Nº 4
Skies Are Blue
09.06 – 27.06
Nº 6
Europa Neurotisch II / Bar Europa
09.06 – 27.06
Under the constraints of relatively low budgets, we developed ideas and methods to get the most out of the invitations, using her A3+ offset press.
By printing ‘4-up’ and rotating or flipping the paper when necessary, we able to print in multiple colours and have variations of each invitation. Each invitation was made using one printing plate.
This printing process was revealed in the last invitation for the Petersburg, titled ‘Grand Finale’. Instead of the usual A5 format, on heavier (250grs) paper, the printed sheets were thinner, left uncut and folded instead.
The Petersburg invitations were the first use of the Hora typeface, my own [crude] digitization of the Greek national highway type design.