TATSURU ARAI  Composer,Sound/Visual Artist,Creator of Gesamtkunstwerk

 

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New Art of the 21st Century

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The history of music and art has been closely intertwined with the evolution of civilization and technology. This relationship is particularly evident in the history of the West. In the early stages of many civilizations, simple sounds were used, and as time progressed through the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, modern, and contemporary periods, more complex techniques and technologies emerged. This development was closely related to the creativity of composers and artists. Great works have been produced in music by figures such as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schoenberg, and Boulez, and in art by Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rodin, Monet, Van Gogh, and Picasso. These European contributions to music and art represent the height of European civilization. The music and art of the 20th century were marked by the spread of increasingly sophisticated techniques and technologies.

However, in the 21st century, it is highly likely that countries of the Global South will surpass Europe and the United States in the realms of economy, politics, and culture. Consequently, the traditional standards of music and art are entering a period of transformation, and a new world of music and art that is suitable for an increasingly diverse and multipolar world is required.

Technological advancements in the 21st century, particularly the emergence of computers and AI, have opened new possibilities for creativity in the fields of art and aesthetics that go beyond human capabilities. These technologies are part of the broader history of the universe and the Earth, and we exist within that context. True scientific progress lies in the ability to embrace technology, address its negative aspects and contradictions, and create a world where humanity, the universe, and nature coexist in harmony. With this vision in mind, human wisdom and technology must come together to create a world that blends universal beauty and science.

Tatsuru Arai believes that these trends, which aim to pioneer new realms of music, have resulted in three key directions. These represent the culmination of classical music, shaped by human sensibility, and the creation of music by computers and AI, guided by human reason.

 

[Creating a new world of art as the Integration of human wisdom and technology]
In the 20th century, a wide range of musical genres, including popular music, emerged, and today, the environment for creating music has changed dramatically with the advent of computers and technology. At the same time, classical and contemporary music must adapt to the changes brought about by the digital-native era. Furthermore, in a world where the Western population numbers around 1 billion and the Global South, with its 7 billion people, is rising in influence, classical and contemporary music—products of Western culture—are being compelled to evolve into art forms that are relevant in this increasingly diverse global landscape.

After 20 years of involvement with classical and contemporary music, I propose a new genre of music called "Trans-Ages Music" which draws on the wisdom and cultural heritage of classical and contemporary music while integrating modern computers and technology. This genre reinterprets the history of music as a process where simplicity evolves into complexity, affirming the significance of technological advancements while incorporating sound densities ranging from 1% to 100%.

I believe this new music, which merges classical music, contemporary music, and Tatsuru Arai’s original Hyper Serial Music through the use of computers and technology, will resonate with the digital-native generation and be well-suited to our increasingly diverse global world.

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[Creating art as part of the universe and nature]
In the past, music across the world was created using instruments, musical notation, and staves, while paintings and sculptures were crafted by human hands. For example, in the West, the Middle Ages and Renaissance were expressions of "religion," while the Romantic period was an expression of "human emotions." The techniques used depended on the technology of the time, which imposed certain limitations and restrictions on artistic expression. However, in modern times, it is now considered appropriate to use computers to represent the immense energies of phenomena like the sun’s nuclear fusion in sound and images.

In contrast to classical or traditional music, the universe and nature are realms of vast complexity and diversity. In the age of computer technology, including AI, a new kind of music is needed to express the universe and nature. For example, many 20th-century composers such as Schoenberg, Boulez, Xenakis, and Lachenmann sought to create music free from the constraints of human emotion, but the sounds they could produce were still limited by the technology of musical instruments. Tatsuru Arai is attempting to express "the universe itself" and "nature itself" by developing new musical techniques, including the concept of "the most complex music in the history of music"—Hyper-Serial Music. Additionally, Arai’s visual media art piece, Face of Universe, aims to express "the universe itself" and "nature itself," unbound by human emotions, ethnicity, or religion.

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[Creating art through the coexistence of humans and nature]
The 21st century, in which we now live, is an era dominated by computers and technology, a reality that was unimaginable just a few hundred years ago.The combination of classical music, which has been refined over time as an expression of human emotions, with Tatsuru Arai’s Trans-Ages Music, Hyper-Serial Music, and Face of Universe—which depict the universe and nature as physical phenomena—creates a new form of art that reflects the coexistence of humans and nature.This is an attempt to create a world of reconciliation and symbiosis between the "inner world of humans," the "universe expressed through Hyper-Serial Music," and "nature represented through the visual media of Face of Universe." The sounds and images generated by AI and algorithms affirm the history of civilization and technology, while reminding us that the ecosystem of our planet is sustained by the sun's nuclear fusion, which generates immense energy. This is not an attempt by humans to conquer the universe or nature, nor an effort to humble ourselves before their vastness. Instead, it is an endeavor to express a sustainable world where humanity and nature coexist in harmony.

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Furthermore, when observing music from an external perspective, the following trends are becoming more prominent. Tatsuru Arai believes that, as professionals in the field of music, we must develop the three new types of music and art mentioned above through interdisciplinary collaboration.

• The shift away from classical and contemporary music towards computers and AI among digital natives

• The creation of new "beauty" as an integration of "truth" and "beauty"

• The establishment of new universal values that transcend ideology

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[The shift away from classical and contemporary music toward computers and AI among digital natives]
I believe that the decline in audiences for classical and contemporary music can be addressed by reaching younger generations through the use of AI and technology. At the same time, the universality of science, which transcends ethnic boundaries, is gaining ground, and this transcendence is being sought even in the Global South. Digital and media art are exploring new dimensions that cannot be expressed through classical art, evolving by harnessing AI and technology from the perspective of a long historical arc. This will give rise to new forms of art that emphasize sustainability and coexistence. The role of art in society should be to promote sustainability, the improvement of ecosystems, and the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature. Likewise, the evolution of the economy, industry, and technology must proceed in ways that foster resilience and coexistence. The driving force behind these changes is not traditional classical music but the younger generation of digital natives, who transcend ethnic boundaries.

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[Creating a new "beauty" as an integration of "truth" and "beauty"]
Tatsuru Arai envisions that, with the evolution of science and technology, a universal "beauty" that transcends race and ethnicity will emerge. While the 20th century was an era where "beauty" was often intertwined with ideology, the 21st century has entered an era where "beauty" and "truth," as expressed through science, are becoming integrated. We are moving towards a time when "beauty," a universal value shared by all people, will be expressed based on the "truth" and "laws" of the universe and physics. This transcends the brief history of humanity when viewed against the much longer history of the Earth.

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[Creating new universal values that transcend ideology]
While respecting the values of democratic freedom, equality, and diversity, we must address the contradictions between the industrial revolution and ecological concerns through scientific advancement, and build a world where coexistence is possible. Furthermore, we must offer the Global South a new worldview that transcends race, ethnicity, and religion by presenting music and art created through technology and science—forms that are not bound by racial, ethnic, or religious divisions. Our aim is to foster a world where coexistence is not just an ideal but a reality.