Lethe on Forgetfulness as a guiding principle in artistic processes

av Andreas Hiroui, Johan Jutterström, and Anna Lindal (Eds.). With the artistic research project Lethe (2020-23), musicians and researchers Andreas Hiroui Larsson [percussion], Johan Jutterström [saxophone], and Anna Lindal [violin], investigated forgetfulness as a method and guiding principle for an artistic process, by using the ancient Greek mythological river Lethe as their Point of departure. The Lethe was considered to possess the property of forgetfulness, and the research group met-metaphorically-over the course of three years, at its riverbanks. The name Lethe means concealment, and is related to the Greek word for truth: aletheia (that contains the word lethe), which literally means un-concealment. As such, forgetfulness may both cause concealment and be part of constructing un-concealment. From their campsite at the riverbank of the Lethe, the research group intended to research forgetfulness in relation to their respective personal artistic practices, within the field of western art and improvised music. They also attempted at constructing coherent theoretical standpoints, to help them, and possibly others, navigate the river's currents and in the end-present an example of what their research could lead to artistically and discursively. The Greek poet Virgil wrote in his epic poem Aenid that it is only after we have had our memory erased by the Lethe that we can become reborn. What are we willing to forget when we meet at the riverbanks of the Lethe, and gaze at the waters that can wash away our previous musical lives? Stockholms konstnärliga högskola 2024 ISBN 9789188407542 X Position - a publication series by Stockholm University of the Arts 2002-603X ; 34