Information:

Friedensreich Hundertwasser chose Regentag as his third name, later he also called himself Dunkelbunt (Colours Glowing in the Dark). For Hundertwasser the Regentag was a significant phase of his life. It was his home, his country, his headquarters. He lived and painted on it for ten years. Moreover it is the scarcely noticed nautical deed of a painter.

Hundertwasser has been fascinated by ships since he was a child and dreamed up ships in his paintings: The "Singing Steamers", the "Mouthboats", the portholes, ships from the front, steamers' smokestacks ets. are recurring motifs in his paintings.

Acquired in 1968 in Palermo as a Sicilian-Tunisian transport ship by the name of "San Guiseppe T", it was sailed to Venice by Hundertwasser and captain Mimmo. Seven years of refurbishing (1968-1974) with captain Antonio in the shipyards of Palermo, Pellestrina, Portegrandi, Malcontenta, Portoferraio, La Goulette and Malta were Hundertwasser's first years of practical apprenticeship in archtiecture. There were similar problems and discussions as with his later architecture. Hundertwasser lengthened the ship from 12 to 16,6 metres, rounded out the hull, set two masts, redesigned the bow and stern, and gave the superstructure a creative, asymmetrical appearance. After trial voyages to Dalmatia, Sicily, Corsica, Elba, Malta, Tunis, Crete, Rhodes, Cyprus and Israel, the Regentag proved its seaworthiness by a voyage to the Antipodes, sailing in 18 months, under captain Horst Wächter, with no problems from Venice via Malta, Gibraltar, the West Indies, Panama, the Galapagos and Tahiti to New Zealand. Hundertwasser was himself captain on board in the Mediterranean, in the Caribbean and on the final stretch Tahiti - Rarotonga - Kermadec Islands - Auckland - Bay of Islands. Since that time the Regentag has been in the care of captain Andrew Fagan.

 

In 1999-2000 in Opua, New Zealand, Hundertwasser had the boat coated with ferro-cement, redid the wheel house and decorated the waterline with tiles. All work was done at the Asby's Boat Yard, Opua, Bay of Islands.

In 2004 the Regentag was transported per cargo to Europe and was a part of the exhibition "Hundertwasser. Art - Person - Nature" in the former Abbey (Minoritenkloster) in Tulln, Lower Austria. Since that time the Regentag has been lain at anchor there at the Danube.