On Friday, August 29, 2025, the historic Arsenal building in Hvar transformed into an impressive stage, where the sea narrated its story through the figure of its guardian – Posidonia oceanica. In the evening, the facade of this landmark was turned into a monumental canvas for an audiovisual projection combining art, science, and technology.
The voice of Posidonia, the seagrass often referred to as the “lungs of the sea,” was embodied by a siren with an angelic voice. In a dialogue with a sailor, she highlighted both – her role in the sea and the reasons for her endangerment.
The entire event was orchestrated by the Split-based association Sunce and the projection’s creator Tomislav Brđanović, who spent the last three months working on the piece.
– The script evolved through a process, not as a one-time write‑up. I started from an idea – to give posidonia a voice. The text and structure shaped themselves through iterations, improvisations, and the blending of visual and sound concepts. This isn’t just a film about posidonia. It’s also a testament to how an artist and artificial intelligence can work hand in hand. It’s a fusion of imagination, knowledge, and technology. For me, the whole experience was special, as I could follow the journey from the project proposal all the way to the premiere in Hvar. I’m convinced this is only the beginning, and that many new stories will emerge from such collaborations, aiming to unite people, art, and nature, – said Brđanović after Friday’s premiere.
An audience enchanted by the projection
Attendees confirmed that art and science had indeed been successfully united.
– The projection was very educational and interesting. Unfortunately, many educational things are boring, you have to read about them, and we all have too little concentration for that. It’s easier to watch a short film! – said one visitor, who seemed far from the only one captivated.
– The event was fantastic, and I support every event of this kind because they raise awareness about environmental protection and are important for a better future. I’d heard of posidonia and knew it was endangered, but I didn’t realize how crucial it is for the seabed and the marine ecosystem. I’m glad I got to learn more, – emphasized a passerby, who had photographs taken in front of the posidonia meadow photo backdrop during the intermission, next to the sign: Every breath you take, every fish you eat… It’s thanks to Posidonia!.
The Tourist Board of the City of Hvar, one of the event’s co-organizers, highlighted that such unique and original events truly enhance the island’s offerings and encourage more responsible thinking about nature. In addition to the Tourist Board, the project was supported by the City of Hvar and the Public Cultural Institution HVAR 1612.
– We worked intensively on organizing the projection, as this was the first time we did something like this at Sunce, and we are delighted that it resonated so well. Many people stopped in front of the Arsenal, filmed the light show, shared their impressions on social media, and commented on how powerful its message was. Some admitted they had never heard of Posidonia before and were deeply moved by its story, – said Ana Miletić Miloš, Senior Associate in Sunce’s Nature Conservation Department and one of the key event organizers.
Throughout the evening, visitors could also explore Sunce’s booths to learn more about the organization’s work, become members, donate to marine protection, and receive commemorative gifts.
Cross-border cooperation to protect the sea
This entire event was part of the BIOPRESSADRIA project, implemented by Sunce within the Interreg Italy–Croatia program, aiming to reduce negative tourism impacts on marine and coastal biodiversity.
– Since it began on March 1, 2024, the BIOPRESSADRIA project has engaged in various activities to protect Posidonia oceanica, a seagrass essential to biodiversity. A particularly significant element of this project is the cross‑border cooperation that enables sharing of experiences, data, and information between Italy and Croatia, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of protecting valuable marine habitats in the Adriatic, – concluded Antonio Pavanello and Saul Darù, representatives of the lead project partner, the Municipality of Monfalcone, who attended the event in Hvar.
And where do sailors anchor in the Pakleni Islands?
Ahead of the light spectacle, project partners and team members embarked on a professional field trip by boat to the Pakleni Islands. The purpose of this visit was to identify and analyze anchor impact sites –on sandy seabeds and Posidonia meadows.
Participants conducted underwater investigations to assess the damage caused by anchoring. It was emphasized that anchoring on sandy seabeds has minimal impact, while anchoring in Posidonia meadows inflicts devastating consequences on the marine ecosystem. To educate sailors on anchoring responsibly and protecting posidonia, Sunce distributed the informational leaflet Posidonia the Mediterranean’s ‘super plant’ this summer as part of the campaign And where do you anchor?, in collaboration with project partners, and shared it with both domestic and international sailors, marinas, concession holders, hospitality businesses, and others.
– Preserving Posidonia meadows in the Pakleni Islands is essential – they serve as habitat and spawning grounds for fish and other marine organisms. In the Pakleni archipelago, these meadows are widespread and continuous, forming an extraordinary ecosystem, which, together with other habitats, is vital for sustaining fish populations. Posidonia also prevents coastal erosion, produces oxygen, and contributes to the clarity of the sea, which is a primary attraction of the Pakleni Islands, – emphasized Jelena Kurtović Mrčelić from the Public Institution Sea and Karst, one of the project partners.
The ongoing challenge: a lack of awareness
The following day, the project’s Steering Committee and partners held meetings to exchange vital field insights, finalize the remaining budgets, and define the next steps. Discussions focused on new approaches to preserving and restoring the seagrass – such as establishing safe anchoring zones, monitoring meadow health, and developing an integrated management system for marine flowering plants in the Adriatic.
– Satellite monitoring data for ships around Kornati from BIOPRESSADRIA indicate that sailors continue anchoring, despite having free ecological anchoring sites nearby (included in the entrance ticket price). This highlights that the issue is not infrastructural, but behavioral and related to sailors’ lack of awareness. Another problem is the excessive pressure on attractive micro-locations – places for which there may never be sufficient ecological anchors and moorings during peak season. But do we really want that many boats in those locations, given all the environmental pressures like anchoring, noise, wastewater, and marine litter? – stressed Zrinka Jakl, Head of the Nature Conservation Department at Sunce.
To tackle this widespread lack of awareness, Sunce announced that the projection premiered in Hvar on August 29 will be shown again on Friday, September 26, 2025, at Veliki Revelin on Korčula. Mark your calendars, join us, and help us protect the sea!
Author of the cover photo: Đani Ivančević