Site-responsive art projects explore St. Petersburg's secret naval islands during 300th anniversary celebrations

In July 2003, Luna Nera partnered with Oleg Yanushevsky to host a one-day event on New Holland, a formerly restricted island in St. Petersburg. Established by Peter the Great in the 1720s, this 74,000-square-meter island initially served as a storage site for naval lumber and later evolved into a testing facility. Access was limited to military personnel until the 2000 initiative "Emplacements." Although architect Eric Owen Moss suggested its redevelopment into a cultural hub, it remained inaccessible. The focus then shifted to Kronstadt, located 29km northwest, during the "Word of the Artist" festival, featuring installations that highlighted maritime history. Kronstadt, founded in 1723, welcomed visitors on November 11, 1996, and is notable for the 1921 sailors' uprising and naval advancements.