KARAS+KVART: ART IN PUBLIC SPACE 2026. SELECTION OF CreArt ARTIST
Following two highly successful previous editions, the Croatian Association of Fine Artists (HDLU), in collaboration with Karas Gallery, continues the KARAS+KVART program in 2026 as part of the CreART 3.0 project. The program is focused on the development and exploration of art in public space, as well as on fostering an active relationship between art and the local community.
KARAS+KVART was initiated with the aim of redefining the cultural identity of the neighbourhood surrounding Karas Gallery through a collaborative and co-creative model that brings together one local and one international artist. During their joint residency and research of the neighbourhood, the artists develop a work that is ultimately realized in the public space.
In previous editions of the program, artists such as Danyil Merkulov and Petar Vranjković, along with Luana Lojić and Karl Iaro from earlier iterations, explored the relationship between space, community, and contemporary social issues through diverse artistic approaches, emphasizing the importance of long-term and research-based work in public space.
The 2026 edition features Vana Gaćina (HR) and Alyona Futsur (UA).
The project FluctuHood is based on the exploration of sustainable biorefineries within an urban context, viewing the neighbourhood around Karas Gallery as a micro-ecological system. The research focuses on overlooked material flows such as bio-waste, ambient heat, solar energy, water, and sound, which can be transformed into usable forms of energy. Through the mapping of micro-locations and the collection of biodegradable and secondary raw materials, the project develops experimental bioelectrochemical batteries that serve as the energy source for an interactive, self-sustaining installation.
The program will be carried out through a three-week on-site research period, while the final works will be presented in the public and/or gallery space of Karas Gallery in May 2026.
Vana Gaćina graduated in Painting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb in 2005, and in 2012 obtained a Master’s degree in Video Art from the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Visual Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana, focusing on the aesthetics of artificial intelligence. In her work, she develops multimedia and interactive installations that connect classical artistic forms with contemporary technologies. Her practice explores the relationship between the analog and digital, as well as the transformation of the image through movement, sound, and spatial interventions. She is a member of HDLU and the Croatian Freelance Artists’ Association, and has exhibited widely in Croatia and internationally.
Alyona Futsur (Ukraine, 1989) is a video and digital artist, performer, and author working at the intersection of visual art, sound, and performance. She was educated in the fields of psychology, art therapy, and curatorial practices, which strongly shape her interdisciplinary approach. Her work explores the relationship between perception, emotion, and social issues, often using sound, video, and immersive formats to create deeper audience engagement. She is particularly interested in environmental questions, human consciousness, and the ways in which art can mediate between personal experience and collective responsibility. She has participated in numerous exhibitions, festivals, and artist residencies across Europe and beyond, and continuously develops projects that incorporate experimental and participatory methods.
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