Spirit of Nøkken

The River Harp is a sound sculpture comprising two large silver balls, one on either side of Drammenselva. The sculpture creates river music through variations in water flow and oscillations of the Ypsilon suspension bridge near the sculpture, which acts as a gigantic harp. Sensors capture footsteps crossing its hundred-yard span, and hidden computers relay them – mingled with river-sounds and the wind in the wires – to resonate inside two steel balls.

In the sphere one can see Fabbrikgata, part of the Høgskolen i Sørøst-Norge (University College in Southeastern Norway) and the lights of the Ypsilon Bridge over Drammen's River.

The 'music' blends with local voices singing to appease the legendary Nøkken, a shape-shifting water spirit. To women, Nøkken appears as a beautiful young man with a violin, enchanting them with sweet river music, drawing them ever closer until they fall in and drown.

River Harp