Cecilie Løveid

Cecilie Løveid made her debut in the 1970s when there were strongly held positions in Norwegian literature by both the radical left – represented by, among others, the many Marxist-Leninist authors – and by the establishment – that is to say, officialdom’s accepted and dominant opinion of art and literature. Much of the poetry that was written at that time suffered from the instrumentalism which arises when poets in a certain environment are whipped into moral and political engagement; most of the agit-prop lyric poetry that was written during that period has faded away. Løveid has always avoided being an instrumental poet; her attitude to language and orientation towards avant-garde artistic and literary trends have given her an immunity to over-simplification by, and accommodation of, prevailing political conditions.

As an experimental language artist, she operates freely amid all kinds of art and uses elements from the knowledge she has of painting, photography, music, dance, theatre, film and folklore and its study. Few texts are so interwoven with associative connections and, at the same time, so loaded with wholly concrete quotations, whether with roots in other literature, or in visual art, film or theatre; indeed, one might say that she is involved in the business of quotation across the various art forms.

Cecilie Løveid has said that she regards the writing of a text “as making an object”, and that she is, first and foremost, trying to get this object to seem well-made. It is most likely this way of thinking that results in texts that seem strict, limited and almost ‘moulded’ while being, at the same time, open, playful and flirtatious.

Despite an experimental focus on what it is to write poetry, Løveid retains a focus on classic themes such as life, death and love. In addition, her interest in classic literature and philosophy, from Euripides to Botho Strauss and from Plato to Wittgenstein, is clear throughout. As such, Cecilie Løveid is both a bearer of tradition and a force for renewal within Norwegian literature. Bibliography

Poetry

Mørkets muligheter, SWING forlag, Copenhagen, 1976
Fanget villrose, Gyldendal, Oslo, 1977
Badehuset, Gyldendal, Oslo, 1990
Mykt glass, Kolon forlag, Oslo, 1999
Spilt, Kolon forlag, Oslo, 2001
Gartnerløs, Kolon forlag, Oslo, 2007
Nye ritualer, Kolon forlag, Oslo, 2008
Svartere bunader, Kolon forlag, Oslo, 2010

Prose

Most, Gyldendal, Oslo, 1972
Tenk om isen skulle komme, Gyldendal, Oslo, 1974
Alltid skyer over Askøy, Gyldendal, Oslo, 1976
Sug, Gyldendal, Oslo, 1979

Plays

Dobbel nytelse, Gyldendal, Oslo, 1978
Måkespisere, Gyldendal, Oslo, 1983
Vift (Radioplay), Solum, Oslo, 1985
Balansedame, Gyldendal, Oslo, 1985
Fornuftige dyr, Gyldendal, Oslo, 1986
Dobbel nytelse, Gyldendal, Oslo 1988
Tiden mellom tidene, Gyldendal, Oslo, 1991
Barock Friise, Gyldendal, Oslo, 1993
Maria Q, Gyldendal, Oslo, 1994
Rhindøtrene, Gyldendal, Oslo, 1996
Østerrike, Gyldendal, Oslo, 1998
Den riktige vind (Play for children), Gyldendal Tiden, Oslo, 1999
Visning, Kolon forlag, Oslo, 2005

Children’s books

Lille Pille og Lille Fille i Den dype skogs teater (Picture book, ill. Hilde Kramer), Gyldendal, Oslo, 1990
Hund får besøk (Picture book, ill. Marek Wolozyn), Gyldendal, Oslo, 1992
Den riktige vind (Picture book, ill. Hilde Kramer), Gyldendal, Oslo, 1996
Fars ansikt (Picture book, ill. Akin Düzakin), Gyldendal Tiden, Oslo, 2000

Link

Cecilie Loveid’s website