ISLAND CONNECT 2022 – Mak Murtić, Marta Kolega & Filip Borelli

Local artists Mak Murtić, Marta Kolega, and Filip Borelli stayed in Moise Palace in the city of Cres for a two-week residency from April 10th to 23rd 2022 to explore their interdisciplinary project Medzotermina, chosen from a selection of 10 art projects supported in 2022 through Island Connect.

This was the first artist residency of the year within the international project Island Connect, run by the Domino organization with four international partner organizations.

The public presentation of the work was held at the Moise Palace in Cres on Friday, April 22nd.

Their research focuses on “islandness” (insularity) with multidisciplinary and immersive practices, including light installations, musical compositions, multi-instrumental performance, movement, and narrative and vocal poetry. Musicians and performers Mak Murtić and Marta Kolega are, themselves, island dwellers (from Krk and Ugljan). They are no strangers to the topic of islands, having already explored the theme through musical structures, the folkloric and modern Mediterranean, and with local dialects with regards to the island environment.

The Medzotermina project continues to explore island cultural heritage and language, as well as island reality within the context of touristification through music. The aim is to traverse the depth and riches of the island in its isolation, but also its permanent connection with the mainland. Taking into account the transformation from agricultural communities into tourist attractions through history, they perceive the islands’ potential to become self-sustaining green oases and part of a tech future.

Mak Murtić is a Croatian composer, performer, and saxophone player. Collaborated with various groups and ensembles from London. Recorded an album with Croatian Radiotelevision Jazz Orchestra and composed for the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. Writer of music for several short films and documentaries, as well as musical arrangements for various ensembles and theaters.

Marta Kolega is a multidisciplinary artist, vocalist, poet, musician, and vocal educationalist. She is inspired by the tradition of storytelling and poetry, traditional singing and contemporary vocal improvisation, as well as modern performing arts. She is the president of the Kamene babe association.

Filip Borelli is a multidisciplinary new media artist who explores interactions between sound, light, movement, and music. Kinetic sculptures, interactive installations, performance, and experimental film are the prevalent forms of his expression. He works as performer and musician, choreographer, instrumentalist, singer, beatboxer, interpreter, and composer.

The main goal of the Island Connect Project is supporting artistic creation through participant mobility, mentorship, and education, all the while empowering and investing in island communities.

The project is supported by The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), the Ministry of Culture and Media, the Office for Cooperation with NGOs, Kultura Nova Foundation, and City of Zagreb Office for Culture.