KARIM
Piano Composition, 3 minutes 30 seconds

The painting HÖG evoked complex emotions of mystique, introspection, melancholy, hope, tragedy, and a sense of seeking. This painting, with its elements of moving water, mist, towering heights, orange and green meadows, and clouds swirling like an approaching or departing storm, reminds me of my constant search for meaning and peace.

The painting depicts a natural landscape that feels both beautiful and mysterious to me. The movement of the water and the stormy clouds reflect a dynamic force and energy that inspired me to create a piano composition mirroring a process of emotional and spiritual healing.

KARIM narrates melancholy through its melody, evoking a sense of loss and longing. Meanwhile, the hopeful sections hint at light and future possibilities. It is a journey toward self-awareness and understanding, woven through with a balance of fragility and strength, reflecting the soul’s quest for resolution and harmony.

Between Doors and Windows
Sound Narrative, 4 minutes - At Strandverket konsthall, Marstrand

The painting "Viol" by Anna Bäckvall features a blue background and depicts a woman standing naked by a window, without facial features. This absence allowed me to see myself reflected in her. The painting evokes a sense of solitude, yet her posture conveys to me that she is at peace within it.

The soundscape portrays my own associations: doors closing and windows opening, symbolizing how people come and go, relationships begin and end, failures and opportunities arise.

The auditory landscape captures the way people move in and out of our lives, as well as my own movement in a home where I am alone, or how the memories of those who once inhabited my space echo. Sounds of sleepless nights and the ticking of a clock symbolize life's relentless, rapid pace and its abrupt transitions.

A rainy night where I stand reflecting, with a door closed and a window open.

Stone Sounds
I used stones placed in a ceramic bowl with a bit of water to create a foundational soundscape. To enhance and vary these sounds, I applied different reverb settings and slowed down the tempo, resulting in a deeper and more resonant effect.

Water Sounds
The water sounds in the design include recordings from Lake Vättern in Jönköping. These sounds have been modulated in various ways to create texture and movement.

Walking on Twigs and Gravel
I recorded the sound of walking on twigs and gravel in Annelund Park in Borås. These natural elements were processed with an equalizer to highlight the most intriguing frequencies. Reverb was added to create a sense of space and depth within the soundscape.

Atmospheric Effect
This ambient piece is not a standalone work but serves as a mood-enhancing element. It is part of a multisensory experience, designed to complement the exhibition rather than exist as an independent composition.

RUNNER'S HIGH
Sound Narrative, 2 minutes 19 seconds

The sound artist has interpreted the painting SIKTLINJER by Anna Bäckvall as an intertwining of multiple environments and places within a shared vacuum. To me, the painting contains elements of water, earth, sky, elevation, and greenery.

Using the sightlines in the painting as inspiration, I created a sound narrative that aims to evoke the feeling of being naturally intoxicated by running. It reflects how the memory of a run becomes cohesive, almost like a kaleidoscopic recollection. A sense of freedom and euphoria emerges when I run, especially when the walls feel like they narrow and close in.

The sound piece mirrors my personal interpretation of the painting’s dynamic and ever-shifting sense of movement through various environments.

HIDDEN CREATIVITY
Sound Narrative, 3 minutes 39 seconds

The outer stillness contrasts with an inner, dynamic world filled with movement and creative energy.

The painting 07.34 B Anna Bäckvall  transports me to an early morning, when the day has just awakened, and the setting calls to one’s inner longing. Much like a small stream surrounded by trees, it is here that inspiration and creativity reside at the heart.

In this peaceful place, where time seems to fly despite the tranquil calm of the surroundings, one encounters a harmonious balance. The outer stillness contrasts with an inner, vibrant world of motion and creative expression.

The Last Embrace
Audio Story, 2 minutes and 46 seconds

She knew it was time—time to leave the garden, the house, and everything she once knew. She flew to Denmark, where my uncle, aunt, and cousins live.

When she saw me, she greeted me with the warmest embrace I had ever received. It was the first time we met, and my heart felt like it would burst with joy. Despite her frailty, she hugged me tightly, as if she never wanted to let go. Tears streamed down her face, and I asked, “Why are you crying?”

She answered, “I’m crying salty and sweet tears at the same time.”

I didn’t understand what she meant then, but two days later, I did. That was when she left us—to reunite with the stars in the ink-blue sky. I had one evening with her, and for that memory, I am grateful. I’ve carried that embrace with me for 23 years.

This audio piece features a vinyl record playing a family song, "Ya Teyour El-Tayra" (Flying Birds) by Saadoun Jaber, released in 1986. Saadoun Jaber, born in 1950 in Basra, Iraq, is a renowned Iraqi singer and composer. He has had a profound influence on Arabic music and is celebrated for his deeply emotional and nostalgic songs.

The song reflects longing for home and love for those who are no longer with us. Its dual meaning also symbolizes the departed, who metaphorically soar above us as birds.

Violin: Gazwan Numan.