Tatsuru Arai is an audiovisual artist combining music composition, generative visuals and creative coding. As an artist Tatsuru is fascinated by technological advancements, particularly the rise of computing and AI, which unlock new creative possibilities in art and aesthetics. We spoke to him about his the relationship between music, sound and technology.
1. How would you describe your artistic practice?
The technological advancements of the 21st century, particularly the rise of computers and AI, have unlocked new creative possibilities in art and aesthetics, surpassing traditional human capabilities. These technologies are part of the long continuum of the universe and Earth's history, within which we exist. Scientific progress lies in embracing technology, addressing its inherent challenges and contradictions, and fostering a world where humanity, the universe, and nature coexist harmoniously. With this vision, we must unify human wisdom and technology to create a reality where universal beauty and science merge seamlessly. For further details, please visit my website.
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2. How are you working with music and new technology?
Throughout history, the evolution of musical composition has been intertwined with technological advancements. From medieval engineering innovations in musical instruments to modern computing and AI, art has always been shaped by the progress of civilization and technology. These advances have allowed music to evolve from simple monophonic structures to intricate, complex compositions. Today, AI can even replicate and reinterpret historical techniques. I view traditional methods and new technologies as part of a continuum, without making value judgments about which is superior.
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3. What interests you about the relationship between sight and sound?
During my studies at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, I researched into the relationship between auditory and visual cognitive abilities. Since childhood, I have been intrigued by the personal experience of hearing a sound and visualizing an image—not as a landscape, but as something abstract - Formative objects or even geometric. Fundamentally, both vision and hearing involve the human ability to perceive space and interpret physical phenomena through the body and brain. While individual perceptions vary, these sensory experiences are intrinsic to our cognition of physical principles. So I believe that auditory and visual cognitive abilities are deeply interconnected.
4. What is the relationship between art and innovation?
If we examine the Earth's history, most matter has remained constant since its formation 4.6 billion years ago. Humans do not create matter but instead innovate by generating new energy forms, ideas, technologies, shapes, and combinations. I think innovation doesn’t reside solely in the artwork or the artist but emerges within the broader principles of economic, social, and cultural value.
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5. What is the work that you are most proud of and why?
Each work I create is tailored to its exhibition context, though all are guided by a long-term conceptual vision. I’ve created several major concepts: "Hyper Serial Music", which represents the most complicated music in history. "Trans Ages Music", spanning 0% to 100% musical density, integrating both simplicity and complexity.
Additionally, I explore themes derived from the Earth's ecological and technological history. Just as Earth’s ecosystem emerged from the sun's nuclear fusion, humanity may soon harness nuclear fusion technology. In works like "Face of the Universe", which uses flowers, I depict the interplay between ecosystems, civilization, and technology. Amidst the distortions of politics in the our social, I strive to express "the most inevitable truths"—those yet to be articulated through art.
