Former Vatra member trades stage for ocean depths in new exhibition

Musician Tomislav Franjo Šušak, formerly of the band Vatra, has shifted his focus from the stage to the ocean's depths with his new exhibition, "Atmospheres Below." The audio-visual project, co-created with DJ Tomislav Bader, is a key part of the Muzej fjake's summer program, which launched on June 21 with six exhibitions dedicated to "fjaka," a Dalmatian concept of a relaxed state of mind and lifestyle.

The exhibition takes viewers on a symbolic digital dive through five sections: "Buka" (Noise), "Zaron" (Dive), "Dah" (Breath), "Tišina" (Silence), and "Površina" (Surface). As visitors progress, they symbolically descend deeper into the underwater world. The project's concept is rooted in the increasing pressure with depth, culminating at 40 meters, equivalent to five atmospheres of pressure including surface pressure. The title itself carries a double meaning, referring to the underwater ambiance and the historical unit of pressure, the atmosphere (ATM), which authors use as the project's core framework.

Šušak, who has over two decades of experience as a musician and producer and is now a diving instructor, collaborated with Bader, a long-time DJ and member of collectives Hrvatska funk delegacija and Soul Brothers. Underwater footage is accompanied by diverse musical genres, from electronic to funk, soul, and hip-hop. Bader highlighted a shot taken near Lastovo island, known for its underwater crevice and canyon, while Šušak pointed to footage of Posidonia seagrass captured under a strong sea current. "The sea is not always calm; it is raw, powerful, playful, and unpredictable. That's why it's accompanied by a wide spectrum of music," Bader stated, with Šušak emphasizing the crucial role of silence, sea sounds, and one's own breathing during dives.

"Atmospheres Below" will remain a permanent part of the Muzej fjake platform, a virtual space dedicated to studying "fjaka" as a social and cultural phenomenon. The museum operates under a non-profit association that also manages the Institute for Cultural and Scientific Study of Fjaka. It includes a "Slow Living Magazine" with ambient scenes and narration. Visitors can explore exhibitions, complete a "Fjaka Barometer," and participate in selecting locations that best embody the "fjaka" spirit.