up without an insistent casting away is a book of text pieces consisting of verbal instructions, or poetic invitations, to create site-specific sound performances. Although most of the texts do not make direct reference to sound (and could, therefore, also be interpreted using other media), the relationship between sound, space, place and people is the context in which all the texts should be read.

up without an insistent casting away was published in 2017 to celebrate the opening of Snøhetta’s building for 􏰀e Department of Fine Art, and the Department of Design for the newly created faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design at the University of Bergen. Alwynne started work on the texts only after making a number of visits to the construction site, and considering the importance of the building and the new department to a city and artistic community of which I have been a part for more than 15 years.

Sound – its creation and perception – is a way of relating to, thinking about and defining the world around us. It is not only a mode of expression, a way of communicating, but also an access to thought. 􏰀e texts in up without an insistent casting away propose sound as a vehicle for thinking about space, location, memory, language, people, time and interaction.

Having been awarded the commission to create a fanfare, or ‘marker’, to celebrate this and future formal events within the Department of Fine Art, and the Department of Design, Alwynne chose to assemble a collection of texts that can be selected and used either individually or collectively, simultaneously or in succession. Obviously, their future use is also not restricted to the building for which they were created, and the pieces are open to interpretation within any chosen space. The number of performers, duration of performance, and instruments, objects or materials (acoustic or electronic) used are not specified. The order of the texts as they are presented in the book has been curated for reading chronologically. However, the reader may select any one or more texts for use in performance, as she pleases.

Photos: Thor Brødreskift and Tor Farstad.