Historic sailing vessel Arka Kinari arrives in Croatia as floating art stage

The historic sailing vessel Arka Kinari, a 24-meter-long, 70-ton ship built in 1947, is set to arrive in Rabac, Croatia, transforming into a unique floating cultural platform. The vessel, part of an artistic project by the duo Filastine & Nova, will serve as a stage for multimedia performances and art installations from August 18 to 21.

The project, titled "Kanvas Mutiny" ("Rebellion of Sails"), aims to address the climate crisis and envision futures beyond a carbon-based economy. Croatian illustrator and street artist Vedran Štimac, known as Polite BastART, will paint a 14-meter-high sail, symbolizing Europe, as part of the "Kanvas Mutiny" initiative. This project breathes new life into the Arka Kinari's sails, with artists from six continents transforming them into monumental artworks.

Since its departure from Rotterdam in 2019, the Arka Kinari has traversed over 40,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Pacific oceans, maintaining a near-zero CO2 emission record. After navigating Oceania and the Indian Ocean, the vessel has reached the Mediterranean via the Red Sea and Suez Canal, en route to Istria.

The Arka Kinari's performances combine psychedelic trap rhythms, Javanese post-folk, analog electronics, and acoustic instruments with video projections. The duo Filastine & Nova has presented this show in over 25 countries. The "Kanvas Mutiny" project will eventually feature six sails, each painted by an artist from a continent the ship has visited or will visit. These artworks will embark on their own exhibition journey, serving as artistic testimonies to the vulnerability of marine and coastal communities.