A central part of WORLD EXPO 2023 is a programme of artists, musicians, composers, choreographers and poets invited byCarl-Michael von Hausswolff and Leif Elggren to perform their work. On four nights during the spring, a total of twelve performances (three per night) will be presented. The works are related to artists, choreographers and composers who have passed away. New interpretations and celebrations will bring the work of the dead artists into our age. 

On Wednesday 10 May, Mats Gustafsson, Elena Wolay and Cecilia Roos  will perform works in relation to Roberta Settels, Lars-Gunnar Bodin and Per Jonsson.

Mats Gustafsson will perform the work Music for Spiritual Survival under the slogan ARBETSDAG (Workday). The work is a brave attempt using sounds, creative timbres and densities to attack escalating injustices and cruelties on our planet. By attacking these injustices from a spiritual perspective, Gustafsson aims to relate to Roberta Settels’ methods, in particular her endeavours to transmit tensions of silence, isolation and loneliness.

Elena Wolay will create a livemix based on the discography and work of electromusic pioneer, composer and artist Lars-Gunnar Bodin.

Cecilia Roos will present a performance featuring movements, sounds, clothes and objects from six works by choreographer Per Jonsson: Schakt (Shaft) (1983), Den leende hunden (The Smiling Dog) (1986), Dance 1 (1987), Mellan två trädgårdar (Between Two Gardens) (1985), UGN (1986) and Rivers of Mercury (1998).

From 16:00, von Hausswolff and Elggren will be onsite in the exhibition at the Elgaland-Vargaland’s Passport Office. Here visitors can apply for citizenship of the Kingdoms of Elgaland-Vargaland. 

Performance: 18:00-20:00

The Passport Office will be open from 16:00

Free entry. No pre-booking required.

Participants

Mats Gustafsson (b. 1964) is a saxophonist, improviser and composer based in Nickelsdorf, Austria. Gustafsson composes solo pieces for the saxophone, live electronic and ensemble pieces, and frequently collaborates with musicians in the genres of noise, electronica, free jazz and contemporary rock.

Roberta Settels (1929–2014) was a New York-born composer who moved to Sweden in the 1950s. In the 1960s and 1970s she worked for EMS Elektronmusikstudion in Stockholm, where she composed several pieces of electroacoustic music. Her only LP was dedicated to Ulrike Meinhof.

Elena Wolay (b. 1986) is a music journalist, lecturer and curator of concerts and exhibitions. Since 2011, she has run the platform ´Jazz Är Farlig´ (Jazz Is Dangerous) and has been described as one of the most driving forces for Sweden’s alternative music scene. Afrofuturism has been one of the themes within the business that Wolay has taken up repeatedly. 

Lars-Gunnar Bodin (1935–2021) was a Swedish composer, electromusic pioneer, poet and artist. He worked withelectroacoustic music, sound art, concrete poetry, performance and text/sound compositions. He was a driving force at Fylkingen and EMS Elektronmusikstudion in Stockholm. 

Cecilia Roos (b. 1958) is Vice-Rector of Research, Professor of Artistic Practices at Stockholm University of the Arts. Roos has a solid background as a dancer, working both nationally and internationally.

Per Jonsson (1956–1998) was a Swedish dancer and choreographer. One of the most important choreographers of Swedish modern dance, his work has been performed at numerous international venues.