Anna Lundh

The Tale of the Big Computer / (Ut)Sagan om den stora Datan

Ongoing research project

The research project is based on the novel The Tale of the Big Computer (originally in Swedish; Sagan om den Stora Datamaskinen) – a future vision about the society and computers, written in 1966 by the Swedish physicist, and later nobel prize winner, Hannes Alfvén. The book received a lot of attention, both in Sweden and abroad, and the composer Karl-Birger Blomdahl decided in 1967 to adapt the story into an opera. He planned interdisciplinary collaborations with artists, engineers and scientists and considered it crucial to utilize, and also develop, completely new sound- and digital technology, computer controlled playback, surround sound and electronically produced music as well as multiple projections and kinetic visual effects. Then, while in the midst of preparing this opera, Blomdahl suddenly died of a heart attack, leaving the opera unrealized – along with all the elaborate plans and possible collaborations. The opera project was soon forgotten.

Since 2009, I have compiled and analyzed all the archival material that is left of this ”vision of a vision”, which consists of sketches, correspondence, PM:s, notes, as well as newspaper articles. I have also interviewed people who were directly involved, and those in the surrounding social and cultural context. The investigation, which begins by examining the very local and historically minor phenomena of an unfinished opera project in Sweden from the late 60ies, ends up connecting dots between people and ideas, from Stockholm to New York, and also aims to ask questions about projections of the past, the present, the future, technology, art and artistic working methods.

This research has been presented as text pieces/essays in publications like Hjärnstorm (Sweden) and the web publications SQUID project (Sweden) and most recently the New York based Triple Canopy (Issue 13: The Tale of the Big Computer). Also presented as a lecture performance (at Kuntsi Museum in Vaasa, Finland, in September 2011).