Kruno Jošt

The research-art project “Concerto Quieto,” named after the Italian name for the Mirna River in Istria, is one of those increasingly present contemporary artistic practices that call for a transdisciplinary approach to the relationship between humans and the natural environment, where natural sciences are at a standstill, opening up new worlds and possibilities. Kruno Jošt, a multimedia artist who has been applying such a practice for years, deals with the interrelationships of science, art, and sustainable development on his permaculture estate near Lovinac in Lika.

One such approach is the form of a scientific laboratory through which Kruno Jošt explores how remediation of the river is created through the medium of sound, i.e., how microbes (non-humans) can help in the decomposition of the river’s toxic sediment without intrusive impact on the environment.

He applies a similar approach to the micro-location of the Mirna River’s flow and estuary. Its area abounds with rich flora and fauna and is an important location for the migration, overwintering, and nesting of water habitat birds. Regardless of the fact that the Mirna (still) is not a polluted river, due to erosion processes, wastewater from settlements, and artificial fertilizers, its natural biological and landscape diversity is endangered year after year.

For the needs of the exhibition in the Rigo Gallery, Kruno Jošt visits the Mirna River several times. In doing so, he collects water and sediment samples, stays alone with the river, listens to it, observes its flows, writes notes, and makes photo documentation. Jošt observes the micro-world from the collected samples of the Mirna River through a microscope. Based on the enlarged living “images” of microbes, he singles out those in which he finds abstract forms that he transfers to the medium of photography. In this way, he transforms the invisible world of microbes into visual forms that, with Jošt’s subsequent interventions, also gain a sound background – a composition for the micro-world of the Mirna River. Inspired by the findings from scientific research on sound frequencies that favor the numerical growth or reduction of individual microorganisms, Jošt creates a composition for the micro-world of the Mirna River.

Composition for River Mura offers a unique journey through a series of photographs, videos, and sound compositions linked to four distinct locations along the Mura River: Sveti Martin na Muri, Podturen, Goričan, and Legrad. This multimedia exhibition masterfully blends art and science, creating an aesthetic experience that blurs the lines between the river, the laboratory, and the gallery, inviting visitors to explore unseen ecosystems functioning in their own rhythm and balance.

Jošt’s approach is deeply rooted in transdisciplinary practices, delving into the local context down to the micro-level. His work, which includes extensive field research, laboratory analysis, and digital processing, is not only artistically significant but also serves as valuable documentation, particularly relevant in our times of climate change and ecological crises. This art actively observes, maps, and becomes a space for change.

Supported by MURAI center for culture and education and Bioinstitut d.o.o. for expert and technical assistance, the project highlights the crucial dialogue between science and art as a shared language for analyzing reality and creating new artistic expressions. Kruno Jošt, an artist focused on ecological contextuality, permaculture, and sustainability, has studied at prestigious institutions and exhibits internationally, developing artistic and educational programs that explore the interrelationships of science, art, and sustainable development.

MSF at Stützpunkt ​Teufelsberg gallery, Berlin, is an installation that uses renewable energy, plant, light and sound to create elements that are presented in need of questioning relations of “us” and “nature”.

Installation produces light and sound frequencies that are beneficial to the plant. It is a mobile installation that is powered by sun light over photo-voltaic panel. Electricity is than stored in a battery that powers recycled mobile phone playing specific frequencies for the plant. Battery also powers a light that shines trough red and blue led diodes benefiting plant growth and fruit development.

MSF is art that is beneficial to the plant. It is not solely here to be an art piece for human observation. thus, it is asking a question of art production – who is it for and why, art institutions – who they present art and why, and reasons for art in Anthropocene.

Installation that utilizes sound, light and living plant, “Sound  Fertilizer” is presented at Cologne gallery Tiefgarage situated in multicultural Ebertplatz, between 22. and 26. July 2018.

Zucchini plant is positioned at the middle of the gallery, a light bulb above and two mobile phones with sets of frequencies placed next to the plant. Zucchini has been planted in the straw bale at Center for Creative Solution in Croatia and after few months transported with  car over the half-borders (borders running only on one side of the neighboring countries) to Cologne. Cucurbita L has no known origin, some coming from USA and some from India. Its multiculturalism resembles every large EU city with its multicultural inhabitants and especially Cologne’s Ebertplatz where it is situated. 

Light used has spectrum of 4000K that enables growth and flowering, while two recycled mobile phones (non functioning, used only as sound players) play sets of frequencies created especially for zucchini plant.

Sound Fertilizer encourages plant to grow in healthy and stable conditions, inside the gallery. Technology enabled art for the plant can also pos3e a question of its environment – anthropocentric culture that grows on both neo-liberal capitalism and/or social state of liberal humanism, while neither of options are furthering away from unbalanced relationship of people as subject and plants as object.

This installation makes plant a subject, as sound is artistically produced and intended for a plant.

16 Channel sound Fertilizer presented at Büro für Bestimmte Dinge, Berlin, in April 2017, with opening talk by Kruno Jošt.

16 small speakers are connected to multichannel sound card run by the computer. Each channel plays a sound or song that was researched as the one beneficial to the plants – from classical to binaural, from high frequencies to traditional sitar sounds. This conglomerate of sounds was not intended only for human gallery visitors, but for the plants as well.

More photos can be find here >>

“16 Channels Sound Fertilizer” sound installation uses renewable energy sources to run multiple speakers that are playing the sounds offered by various sound-for-plants researchers. Sounds include different frequency ranges, noise generators and musical interpretations as well as sound compositions offered by French mathematician and physicist Joel Sternheimer who developed a study on protein synthesis activation. Installation is questioning an alternative to “art-for-humans” position as well as alternative to industrial agriculture and its extensive usage of pesticide and chemical fertilizers that is contributing to climate change.

“Invisible Cities” event in Gorizia, Italy hosted “16 Channels” installation, including 45m² geodesic dome made out of wooden poles and tent cover, with 16 speakers arranged in circle, lights, cushions.

Spatial sound installation using 16 channels reproducing piano composition by Kruno Jošt, overplaying randomly, creating a sound immersive experience. Installation was run on solar panel, batteries and inverter.

Field recording during MMKamp '11

Multimedia cam – MMKamp was held this year in Marija Bistrica and Zabok, north Croatia. Read more about it here >>
Have a look at the photolog>> or lilsten to the audio drama recorded in a group fashion by all the participants:

Wall graphite

Inspired by London collective ‘Random Artists’, over the past few years collective groups in Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh and Brighton have been coming together to create a cultural, interactive, autonomous space where people are free to be, free to create, and free to express themselves. Forbiden Arts Manchester in 2009 happened in occupied primary school building that was left empty waiting for decisions by city hall and omnipotent property developers will it be brought down or repaired. Idea was to enter existing space that is not used at the moment and put it into public use for local community. Doors were open to everyone who wanted to take part in collective art event.

Noisy Toys room - colective sound/noise experiance

Wall paintings, poetry readings, video nights, fashion show, sound workshops, cabaret, installations, raveoke night, all fitted in aesthetics of local event that is characterized on MFA web page as: “An event like this doesn’t just happen but is the result of many, many people’s hard work.”

TAA Manchester big hall event

Noisy Toys collaborative event video >>

ILN 1 is recorded A/V performace lasting 25 minutes using moving images filmed on the travel to Dubrovnik, most South  (once free) city in Croatia.  Short clips are turned into loops and eventually became an abstraction that are powering the sound behind it. Using Pure Data and sometimess WIImote controler an intensive performance that goes into sphere of self investigation and spiritual.

Download video  here >>

34.in.C++

Improvised noise session of 3 numbers ranging from whitenoise to travel sound to freeimpro piano.
Done in FOSS with PD, arduino as controller, Jack Rack and Qsynth.

Musicians: GentleJunk and VJPalm.

Recorded summer 2008 in Krizevci, Croatia

DOWNLOAD AT ARCHIVE.ORG >>

GentleJunk – Margini Sonori II (live at Barrio’s caffe)
GentleJunk recorded live at Barrio’s Caffe during second edition of non conventional music program ‘Margini Sonori’ in Milan, Italy was an audio visual performance. GentleJunk NetLabel releases audio track that still remains in passages of visual narrative. Dreamy piano, noisy electric wire, glitches and digital clicks.
Time 45 min.
Recorded on 05.02.2008. by ODRZ.
DOWNLOAD AT ARCHIVE.ORG >>

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Third I – “This is our post postapocalypse”
follows Third I first album “When Tomorrow Hits”.
“THIRD I started by the end of 2005. It brings you industrial, dark ambient, (harsh) noise, dark electro, experimental, ambiental, drone, low-fi sounds… We are constantly working on our new stuff and we have few demos waiting to be released. We are open for split releases or any kind of colaboration and direct communication with noisy / experimental / harsh / noisecore / grind / power-electronics / industrial bands, labels, distro, radio shows, zines… Labels contact us if you are interested in releasing any of our works in any format (3″/5″ CD/CDr, 5″/7″/10″/12″ vinyl, tape, DVD, net release etc). On this page you can find our complete discography and download most of our releases for free. THIRD I is into DIY and we are strongly chained to DIY ethics.”
DOWNLOAD AT ARCHIVE.ORG >>

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“Bad Seed of Cuprija noise scene”
“Ko ne plati na mostu platiće na Ćupriji” or “Bad Seed of Ćuprija noise scene” is 3way split:
Endless Conflict – experimental / noise ilija666 at gmail.com
Oil – dark electro / experimental alequ83 at yahoo.com
Third I – industrial / noise hellycherry at gmail.com www.hellycherry.cjb.net
CDR was released by Zvukovina and you can get FREE cds at viktorliebezeit at yahoo.com. Net Release was done by numerous net labels such as Kaos Ex Machina, Neurotic Mind, Deadknife,…
DOWNLOAD AT ARCHIVE.ORG>> www.myspace.com/krikunutrasnjosti

Bank of sounds recorded during travel – monotonous, meditative trips trough different states of living organism called Earth.

Sounds have been collected mostly from trains, buses and airplanes and while walking.

Sounds are unedited and can be played in any combination or order. They represent specific time and specific place that one cannot see but can listen and imagine.

Check it here>>

GentleJunk is sharing a virtual stage with Julie Rousse on upcoming noplacard festival, Sunday 17th February, 2 o’clock in the morning.

noplacard is a mix in between the (((NOMUSIC))) festival and the placard headphone festival that lasts for 24 hours in Paris at la menagerie de verre during the Economie0 event.

(((NOMUSIC))) started on June 2001, according to the principle that a diffusion site on Internet should correspond to the representation of the singular performances of a new generation of artists, musicians, performers and other actors of the electronic scene. The creation of this open diffusion site proved to be necessary because of today’s difficulty to perform disembodied concerts of electronic music on stage, in a classical frontal (actor/audience) representation space. Nowadays, these emerging new multimedia performances allow everybody to approach music in a more singular way, with a different listening practice and on a more sharing scene.

A recording from EEII ’07 festival that took place in Cultural Center Lamparna in Labin, Croatia. EEII ’07 started on 19th of October 2007 and lasted for 33 hours. It is, sadly, only event of this kind in Croatia.
EEII stands for Experimental Electronic Interventions, a DIY project occasionally helped by breadcrumbs and leftovers.

EEII festival experiments with the instruments (self-made, retro, digital, analog, mix…), with ways how to play, with improvisation in every way. Hope you will enjoy it, and will ask for more!

Released at GentleJunk NetLabel december 2007.

 DOWNLOAD OR LISTEN FROM ARCHIVE.ORG>>

Experimental Electronic interventions festival this year DIY style – http://www.uke.hr/EEII/

Following audio file has been recorded on September 24th evening (2007) in GJ studio as a part of research in CELLULAR AUTOMATA MUSIC that was developed in GentleJunk co. labaratory.

Main occupations in this generated piece is correspondence of rhythmic instruments and time. It is work of 4 slightly different CA scripts that are directed in improvised way. A relationship is developed by connecting seemingly indefinite loops and revolving them back to their own start point.

Manifestacija Operacija grad:Jedinstvo otvara PRIVREMENI ILEGALNI CENTAR ZA KULTURU I MLADE u bivšoj tvornici Jedinstvo na Savskom nasipu u Zagrebu. Tokom manifestacioje održat će se Impronedjeljci (improvizirani experimentalni glazbeni sessioni) i video instalacija TVTurnoffWeek.
Program>>
Pozadina događaja >>