Sparina Kocke
kvir tragovi Kluba Kocka, Split
The Sultriness of Kocka
queer traces of Klub Kocka, Split
2025
published by queerANarchive
photos: die Blaue Distanz
“Sparina Kocke – kvir tragovi Kluba Kocka, Split” / “The Sultriness of Kocka – queer traces of Klub Kocka, Split” is a publication on queer traces and hirstories of Klub Kocka in Split, Croatia. Through artworks, collected materials, narrated fragments, and collective memories, die Blaue Distanz weaves an artistic insight into the queer life, friendships, and underground clubbing that have flourished within the brutalist walls of the Dom mladih building.
The joint efforts of the artists and the community to map, archive, and thus preserve this unique spatial complex – its social dynamics and emotions – have been significantly intensified by the building’s upcoming renovation.
The book brings together what institutional archives often overlook: gestures of care, glances of desire, and collective moments of euphoria and farewell that have shaped a vibrant and heterogeneous scene with punk and anarchist roots over its 30-year history. This is more than a documentation; it is an act of remembering and resilience—an ongoing re-telling of resistance, creativity, and solidarity that continues to shape Split’s queer utopian horizon.
The joint efforts of the artists and the community to map, archive, and thus preserve this unique spatial complex – its social dynamics and emotions – have been significantly intensified by the building’s upcoming renovation.
The book brings together what institutional archives often overlook: gestures of care, glances of desire, and collective moments of euphoria and farewell that have shaped a vibrant and heterogeneous scene with punk and anarchist roots over its 30-year history. This is more than a documentation; it is an act of remembering and resilience—an ongoing re-telling of resistance, creativity, and solidarity that continues to shape Split’s queer utopian horizon.
concept, research, editorial: die Blaue Distanz
mentoring, co-editor: Tonči Kranjčević Batalić
graphic design: Rafaela Drazic
proof reading, translation: Igor, Mirta
photo editing: Norbert Dietsche
printer: Kerschoffset, Zagreb
publisher: queerANarchive
ISBN: 978-953-58908-5-0
1. edition: 100 copies
funding: Liebelt Stiftung Hamburg
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Nikolina Banić, Karmelo “Chmite” Marin, Ivan B., Joni Ulla, Lea Štambuk, Katarina Duplančić Dugopoljac, Igor S., Igor Mihovilović, Tonči,and all the (anonymous) contributors of our online and offline survey for generously sharing their time and experiences
participants of silk screen workshop for print inlay:
Rama, Mia, Bruna, Danzla, Karla, Ozy, Tane
on-site support:
Jelena Šimundić Bendić (Mavena), K.U.M., the team of Klub Kocka
text support:
Marko Mlinar (Rizpet), Kate (KUM)
„Sparina Kocke“ has been selected as one of “The 12 most beautiful Croatian books of 2025“ and will be exhibited at Leipziger Buchmesse and Frankfurter Buchmesse 2026.
mentoring, co-editor: Tonči Kranjčević Batalić
graphic design: Rafaela Drazic
proof reading, translation: Igor, Mirta
photo editing: Norbert Dietsche
printer: Kerschoffset, Zagreb
publisher: queerANarchive
ISBN: 978-953-58908-5-0
1. edition: 100 copies
funding: Liebelt Stiftung Hamburg
many thanks to:interview partners:
Nikolina Banić, Karmelo “Chmite” Marin, Ivan B., Joni Ulla, Lea Štambuk, Katarina Duplančić Dugopoljac, Igor S., Igor Mihovilović, Tonči,and all the (anonymous) contributors of our online and offline survey for generously sharing their time and experiences
participants of silk screen workshop for print inlay:
Rama, Mia, Bruna, Danzla, Karla, Ozy, Tane
on-site support:
Jelena Šimundić Bendić (Mavena), K.U.M., the team of Klub Kocka
text support:
Marko Mlinar (Rizpet), Kate (KUM)
„Sparina Kocke“ has been selected as one of “The 12 most beautiful Croatian books of 2025“ and will be exhibited at Leipziger Buchmesse and Frankfurter Buchmesse 2026.
