presentation
Wednesday, 22 Octobar 2025, 10 am
ISSA - The Island School of Autonomy, Vis
Video on Matko Šišak’s residency on Vis, author: Dario Juričan
The project Art meets conviviality – Permaculture water management design is being implemented on the island of Vis as part of the S+T+ARTS4WaterII residency project titled Cisterns Meet Modern Tech – Circular Water Systems as a Convivial Tool, in collaboration with the Drugo more association from Rijeka, ISSA- Island School of Social Autonomy from Komiža and ZMAG from Vukomerić. Artist and builder Matko Šišak from ZMAG, along with a number of collaborators, was given the opportunity to design and implement a whole series of usable installations and solutions to provide water to the ISSA association and establish a connection between tradition, new technologies and free art forms.
As part of the October School program under the title Reimagining Institutions, the project will be presented to local, national and international public at the ISSA site, located on the summit of the island of Vis, beneath Hum Hill (Wednesday, 22 October 2025, at 10 am).
Matko Šišak (ZMAG) will guide us through a sustainable and circular water collecting and distribution system combining traditional and modern technology together with architect Luka Vlahović. The artist will present sound recordings of on-site natural elements transformed into compositions reflecting the project’s processes, together with sketches and visual documentation that became part of an educational manual.
Presentation will offer an opportunity for a joint exploration and re-imagination of sustained collaborations together with community, and the potential for future initiatives combining sustainability, science and art.
The site now features::
- a “cloud collector” or fog collector for capturing water vapour,
- a restored traditional stone cistern,
- a new monolithic outdoor kitchen with integrated water filtration and distribution system,
- solar-powered showers,
- a compost toilet,
- a constructed wetland wastewater treatment system, and
- an additional rainwater storage tank system
Clean water from these systems is ultimately used for irrigating a Mediterranean forest garden. All systems were designed to be functional and efficient while also serving as artistic and communicative installations.
»The highlight of the project was the creation of the Water Symphony, in which the sustainable water management system is connected to sound microsensors. These sensors record wind, water flow, air currents, temperature differences, and other parameters, transforming them into ambient soundscapes through custom-designed software.«
Author & Artist in Residence & Builder: Matko Šišak
ZMAG supervision: Dražen Šimleša
ZMAG Office Support: Una Milić
ZMAG Engineering and Construction support team: Jakov Radošević, Alen Cerovac, Kristijan Perlić, Goran Brumić
ISSA Field support: Srećko Horvat, Luka Vlahović, Marina Andrijašević
Architect: Luka Vlahović
Construction engineer: Jakov Radošević
Sound artist: Marina Andrijašević
The Other Sea support team: Ivana Katić, Davor Mišković, Dubravko Matanić, Barbara Babačić
Film Production: Dario Juričan
Illustrations & Graphic Design: Miran Križanić
ABOUT THE S+T+ARTS4WaterII PROJECT
Funded by the European Commission, the S+T+ARTS4WaterII (Science, Technology and Arts for Water Management) project engages in deep interdisciplinary collaboration, leveraging creative artistic processes combined with cutting-edge technological and scientific research. Europe’s ports face complex environmental and societal challenges—pollution, ecosystem degradation, climate change impacts, and socioeconomic pressures. Recognizing ports as crucial gateways connecting people, resources, and regions, the project addresses these challenges through art-driven innovation, digital solutions (AI, IoT, sensor platforms, drones, autonomous vehicles), and creative community engagements, aiming to enhance circularity, resilience, and ecological sustainability of port ecosystems.
The project involves partnerships with renowned European institutions including VITO and GLUON from Belgium, WAAG from The Netherlands, TBA21 from Spain, Kunst Haus Wien from Austria, the Camargo Foundation from France, OGR Torino from Italy, PiNA from Slovenia, UCD from Ireland, and Drugo More from Croatia. Together they form an ambitious programme of residencies, collaborative workshops, public showcases, and exhibitions aimed at reaching thousands across Europe. More information: starts.eu
STARTS4waterII is co-funded by the European Union under the STARTS – Science, Technology and Arts initiative of DG CNECT (GA no. LC-02629312.). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or DG CNECT. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Project is co-financed by the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs. The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of Drugo more and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs.
MATKO ŠIŠAK
Matko Šišak is the initiator and manager of the Vukomerić Recycled Estate and one of the founders of ZMAG. For the last 20 years, he has been researching, practicing and promoting ecological technologies and innovations in the fields of construction, do-it-yourself culture and permaculture. As an educator and a consultant, he systematically shares his knowledge from the aforementioned fields with the general and professional public. He is the author of several books and publications, the editor of a dozen editions from the Green Tools publications. He is the Natural Building Academy Manager.
