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National Spring Clean

Poster
ca 1990 (designed and printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The slogan on this poster refers to the intention of the Hungarian Democratic Forum to do away with the remnants of the communist regime. The idea is illustrated by a colour photograph of a dustbin filled with communist propaganda paraphernalia.

The poster is the work of Béla Aba, who designed the corporate identity for the Hungarian Democratic Forum during the campaign for the first free elections in Hungary following the collapse of communism. All three elements of the graphic identity appear on this poster: the full name of the party (Magyar Demokrata Fórum), its abbreviation (MDF), both in an elegant 'Antiqua' font, and the party emblem based on a stylized palmette plant motif. Aba kept this motif as a flat form in pure green, but later versions added red and white colours and developed the emblem into a tulip. Both the palmette motive and the tulip appealed to the conservative voters because they are associated with old Hungarian cultural traditions. Stylized plant motives decorated the robes and arms of the Hungarian tribes that conquered the Carpathian Basin in the 9th century. The tulip is a characteristic motive of Hungarian folk art. The popularity of the logo was enhanced by rumour that it was invented by Levente Szörényi, a popular pop singer and composer. Aba did indeed use a sketch by Szörényi with whom he was friendly. However, the original drawing was profoundly modified by the designer.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • National Spring Clean (generic title)
  • Pro-democracy Poster Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Colour offset lithograph printed on paper
Brief description
MDF Magyar Demokrata Forum. Hungarian Poster ca. 1990 -91
Physical description
Poster
Dimensions
  • Height: 48.2cm
  • Width: 67cm
Summary
The slogan on this poster refers to the intention of the Hungarian Democratic Forum to do away with the remnants of the communist regime. The idea is illustrated by a colour photograph of a dustbin filled with communist propaganda paraphernalia.

The poster is the work of Béla Aba, who designed the corporate identity for the Hungarian Democratic Forum during the campaign for the first free elections in Hungary following the collapse of communism. All three elements of the graphic identity appear on this poster: the full name of the party (Magyar Demokrata Fórum), its abbreviation (MDF), both in an elegant 'Antiqua' font, and the party emblem based on a stylized palmette plant motif. Aba kept this motif as a flat form in pure green, but later versions added red and white colours and developed the emblem into a tulip. Both the palmette motive and the tulip appealed to the conservative voters because they are associated with old Hungarian cultural traditions. Stylized plant motives decorated the robes and arms of the Hungarian tribes that conquered the Carpathian Basin in the 9th century. The tulip is a characteristic motive of Hungarian folk art. The popularity of the logo was enhanced by rumour that it was invented by Levente Szörényi, a popular pop singer and composer. Aba did indeed use a sketch by Szörényi with whom he was friendly. However, the original drawing was profoundly modified by the designer.
Collection
Accession number
E.2060-1991

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Record createdMarch 4, 2009
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