AMSTERDAM - THE GLOWIEST PLACE IN TOWN

Meet Nick Paladino, a Hendrix-obsessed American who drained an Amsterdam basement all by himself in order to create Electric Lady Land, a museum where everything but Nick is fluorescent--although we haven't seen him in the nude. Mieke Lindeman traveled to the museum for further inspection. Here's what she came home with.

So as not to damage the piece of art that this museum was, we had to wear these polyurethane Smurf shoes. Obviously these lit up in the blacklights as well.

Nick in his Land. He's definitely no hippie and does not like drugs at all, but loves Jimi Hendrix.

Electric Ladyland is all about "participatory art": becoming one with the piece. This entails pressing some buttons a few times, thereby changing the lighting or triggering background music. This important part of the experience is titled "The Magic Land of Lights, Sounds, and Dimensions," as well as "The Sister Mary Bernadeth Grotto."

That was a very cute set of effects, but as Nick had so many things to tell us, each involving at least as many physical movements as words. Here he is telling us how to take a good photo.

Behold, magic dust. Or just UV powder in small containers.

And, drumroll, bottles of UV-gloss paint. This is the secret to this place.

Of course he highlighted those freak animals that were born glowing under black light. Evolution has come so far!

Here's Nick's fingers a few seconds after his having rubbed them on this piece of Fluourite. This was to prove that fluoride is "all natural, as it comes from a rock." Therefore it is not dangerous. Right? Nothing is dangerous in nature. 

Nick's office is also covered in fluorescent art. The only black-and-white image present here is an old photo of Nick and his soulmate/muse Michele Delage.

Yay, we're just as important as Jimi Hendrix!

MIEKE LINDEMAN

Comments

[Blarg]

Being an aging, flourescent crust hippie without the drugs is like being a dickless Rick James.

[herd]

i don't know if i believe the no drugs thing.

[yo]

damn he looks just like Manson in that black and white

[spacoli]

im looking at a ganja poster in his office, this guy loves the pot.
more likely permanently high, perma-dosed off some dark amber-brown liquid he got at a Rainbow gathering in 72. expat in Amsterdam though, well done.

[yancy]

whoa. blacklights sober is like watching porn and not beating it. no point.

[@spacoli]

nice sleuthing. that's definitely a pot leaf sticker.

[bun]

i disagree. he lives in a glow dome.

[Jono]

I'm guessing the "no hippie" and "doesn't like drugs" is a very bad attempt at sarcasm. I find that sarcasm doesn't translate well when written.

[justin]

it doesnt at all, sadly it sounds like the truth jono

[anonymous]

this is amazing! what if you could dump your wasted friends here after a late night and then record their reactions when they wake up in a basement of fluorescent glitter.

[anonymous]

This should be optioned as a new roller coaster ride at every theme park ever.

[ryanharish]

all disgasting .how

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[kat]

this reminds me of the shitty ghost train at the pleasure beach in brtians most loved shit infested sea side resort blackpool!

[richard boyd-dunlop]

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[Gregor Mendez]

I think his middle name is LSD

[Nick Padalino]

What I said to the Interviewers was that I Did Not want them to WRITE ABOUT Drugs, that's all!!

[Not a clone]

Hey retards this interview was about an ART MUSEUM...I will say it slower for u all A..R..T....M..U..S..E..U..M. If u ever leave ur boring 9 to 5 jobs u should go inside one one day & see how people w/brains who are not clones live.

[doc martens boots]

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[mp3 sunglass]

I think his middle name is LSD

[Los Angeles Movers]

just back lights is amazing

[iso in photography]

I wish I had known about this while I was in amsterdam would have been as fun as the torture museum or sex museum

[Kent portrait & event photographer]

In a World that can be sometimes boring and bland, a touch of eccentricity can be so inspiring! Bring it on more madness please :)

[Phen375]

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[Flex Belt]

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[Harmony]

THE ELECTRIC LADYLAND WAS THE BEST EXPERIENCE I HAD IN ALL OF AMSTERDAM! I can't stop raving about this place. I learned alot from the Museum and even took home a piece of Nick Paladino's art. He uses colors I've never seen in black light art, come to find out even makes his own paints! I didn't meet him but I met his soulmate Michele and she is amazing!
He made a great place for all of us to view and experience. Thank you for sharing! I'll never forget my experience!