World’s Most Unique Festival Decked out in Fluorescence
The sixth annual Hartera, a festival that has in the past few years turned into one of the most interesting music events of the season, took place in Rijeka from June 10th to the 13th. In addition to an enticing line-up, which has yet again managed to gather numerous music fans from all over Croatia and its neighboring countries, the ambient in which the Hartera was held was also a contributing factor toward its popularity and high attendance rate; the lofts and halls of the one-time paper factory by the Rječina have proven themselves to be an ideal setting for these types of music events. Same as last year, the interiors of the industrial localities were designed by the brilliantly multi-talented musician and artist Damir Martinović Mrle.
Further details in view of his creativity expressed on the Hartera walls are available in the interview Mrle gave to Novi list.
Interview by Dea Demić, Novi list
Precisely as the offbeat and surrealist humor of Jones, Palin, Idle, Cleese and Chapman can’t be pigeonholed into any particular category, thus the term “Pythonesque” was coined, the visual identity of the Hartera can simply be classified as – “Mrletesque”.
*Marrakesh
The fluorescent circus created by Damir Martinović, the remarkably multi-talented Rijeka artist whose designs at the past editions “screamed” from the Hartera Hotel and the Electro-sanctuary, has shown and proven that warehouses can be turned into interesting and pleasant concert interiors. The fluorescent circus metastized yet again during the month of June, thus leaving no doubt that the sixth annual edition of the Rijeka music festival, in addition to the audio table, certainly captured the audience’s attention with his unique visual array.
* Tutankhamun’s tomb; the angelic figure of Jadranka Kosor
The recognizable entwinement of multicolored religious and mythological motifs in the newly adapted cool warehouse are joined by deities and tombs – Marrakesh, a police temple, Tutankhamun’s tomb as homage to Ri Rock and the year 2012; even to the angelic figure of Jadranka Kosor, who is sure to, says Mrle, save the whole of humankind. It is all a part of the author’s offbeat inspiration and the fascinating new collection of Hartera’s interiors, which create a specific atmosphere streaked with fluorescent colors under fluorescent lighting.
– The idea of designing the small spaces within the Sanctuary is actually the very thing that inspired last year’s edition of the festival. Namely, as I’m constantly mingling throughout the Hartera, watching where people gather most, what attracts their attention, I thus noticed that people tend to flock to his small, completely hidden holes. Pure genius! The impetus toward creating, i.e., providing people with the opportunity to “legally” reside in, slide into, kiss, play and make out within those spaces – clicked immediately, reminisces Mrle, and considers the “intimate zones” a huge asset to this year’s Hartera.
Due to the sheer magnitude of the programme, it’s not unusual that an hours-long stay within the masses tends to get to be pretty strenuous, thus a rest in the thematically created, fairy-talesque booths comes as a balm to both body and soul.
*Electro sanctuary
Two Hundred Square Meters of Beds
– The guiding idea of everyone who works in the Hartera organization is the visitors’ absolute satisfaction, hence I as the interior designer of the festival premises make an effort to make people feel as comfortable as possible. Adapting the premises corroded by time was once again a great challenge, especially as it was necessary to realize everything on a limited budget. The Electro-sanctuary went through the most changes with two clubs being introduced in two days – the Sirup and Ambasada Gaviolli, respectively. Thus it became a separate stage, with a bar guarded by the famous white horse without a prince, a large ball in the central part, as well as new rotating holograms. Likewise, we enriched the Marganovo with a big crystal chandelier, while the design we had in mind for the upper terrace was dependent on the weather, explains Mrle.
That’s the precise venue where the “chilling” zone was supposed to be, the one that was a part of the Hartera Hotel last year.
– Along with the Forrest chef’s many culinary gimmicks, but also dependent on various affinities and inspiration, many a pleasure was enjoyed on the terrace on the huge 200 square meter bed alongside a lovely new statue. This year the camp was situated in an isolated place near the Hotel which we have enriched with a mobile ceiling along with adding a larger stage for renowned performers. Namely, this year’s installation on the Hartera’s ceiling was a gigantic fluorescent nylon wave moved by mechanisms which turn the rotation of the motor into “wave” motion twenty five meters in length and nine in width. If you liked last year’s rotating “chandeliers”, this year’s wave was sure to sweep you off your feet, the artist revealed.
*Police Temple
Fanatical Energy
Mrle notes that all of his ideas for this year’s Hartera surely wouldn’t have taken hold so well if there wasn’t so much great energy, both human and creative, especially Dino Mijat’s and Sanjin Pejić’s from the group “What the Funk”. Old Hartera forces, Borna Mance and Branko Kovačić were also present.
– An almost fanatical energy has been present at all times, without which the realization of the Hartera renovations would be nothing save a mere fantasy. I’m quite satisfied how everything turned out in the end. Actually, I’m the happiest man on the planet when any new story about the festival takes hold. What makes me the happiest after six years of work is the fact that more and more people are starting to show an interest and desire to perform and conduct workshops in the Hartera halls. And that is precisely the goal! The festival in itself is not a goal per se, rather the goal is including as many people as possible. The aim is to expand the Hartera. And yes, no doubt about it – it was a complete bash, concludes Mrle, for whom that saying about “the suit that doesn’t make the man” warrants a new saying, “the suit that makes the Rijeka festival the most unique in the world”.
Take a look at several videos of the newly decorated Hartera interiors
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ySSIQK1Ms
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efwA8VUaE4A
More on the Hartera festival here
