A concept taken up across Europe
Fuse - La Démence
Mousse extra
Samedi 26 août 1995 · Rue Blaes 208, 1000 Bruxelles
Brussels' first foam party, produced by Carl De Moncharline at Fuse - La Démence on Saturday 26 August 1995, alongside the « Who's Who's Follies », his other production at Fuse. Carl De Moncharline produced two editions: the first on Saturday 26 August 1995, the second on Saturday 31 August 1996. The flyer is an object to be assembled: a fold-up cardboard box reproducing point by point the codes of a washing-powder pack — « Mousse extra », 1 Kg, 40 °C, « recommended by nightclubbers ». The washing-powder-box concept is a creation of Carl De Moncharline; the graphic execution is by La Shampouineuse (Michel Poulain).
Programme
Carl de Moncharline présente le classique d'Ibiza — Fuse - La Démence, à partir de 23h
Floor 1 — Washing: DJ Jos & DJ Mr Bolan. Floor 2 — Drying: DJ Mo & Benoelie. Saturday 26 August, Fuse - La Démence, rue Blaes 208, 1000 Brussels.
Mentions imprimées sur la boîte
« Don't forget a change of clothes or a towel. The upper floor will be open for those who do not wish to get wet. » — « Fold intelligently ».
Line-up
- DJ Jos — Étage 1 — Lavage
- DJ Mr Bolan — Étage 1 — Lavage
- DJ Mo — Étage 2 — Séchage
- Benoelie — Étage 2 — Séchage
Credits
- Concept, art direction & production — Carl De Moncharline
- Graphic design — La Shampouineuse (Michel Poulain)
© La Shampouineuse, 1995.
The origins of foam parties
In the mid-1980s, Ibiza served as a laboratory for club culture. At Amnesia, the first foam parties appeared in a makeshift form, turning the dance floor into a shifting set where the crowd itself became the show.
The principle is simple: music, celebration and special effects combined into one immersive experience. The « Foam Party » became a symbol of Ibiza before gradually reaching clubs worldwide — and Brussels in 1995, at Fuse.
Printing technique
Cardboard box printed flat, to be cut out and folded: the flyer becomes a miniature washing-powder pack.
The document is printed flat, with its flaps and fold lines visible. Handed out as such, it was not a mere printed sheet but an object to be assembled, which the public kept — hence the number of copies that have survived.
The entire typography and iconography of the detergent aisle is diverted: an « efficacité garantie » banner, the burst star, bubbles, washing pictograms, net weight, and the club's two floors classified as « washing » and « drying ».
Distribution relied on a network covering the country's most prominent shops and restaurants. Three objects circulated within it: the box-flyer, the complimentary entry cards for partners, and the posters — large cardboard boxes glued onto walls, whose relief gave them considerable visual impact.
Partners
Switch On · White Night · Ice Titi ?
A concept taken up across Europe
After this night, the washing-powder-box principle was reworked by La Shampouineuse (Michel Poulain) for other European clubs, notably in Switzerland. Four of these versions are now held in the collections of MAD, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris.
These records do not name the author of the concept. This is an oversight: for the Global Tekno 1 poster (inv. no. 2018.83.48), MAD does reproduce the printed line « SUR UNE IDÉE DE CARL DE MONCHARLINE ». The washing-powder-box concept has the same authorship — Carl De Moncharline devised it, La Shampouineuse produced the graphic design and later the variants.
The way the concept travelled, from a Brussels club to several European scenes, says enough about the reach of an idea born one night on rue Blaes.
Scan provenance
Scan from Carl De Moncharline's personal archives. No element has been added, removed or reconstructed.