UMS PRESENTS SUPERPOSITION Concept, direction, and music by Ryoji Ikeda Friday Evening, October 31, 2014 at 8:00 Saturday Evening, November 1, 2014 at 8:00 Power Center • Ann Arbor 11th and 12th Performances of the 136th Annual Season International Theater Series Photo: superposition, 2012; photographer: ©Kazuo Fukunaga/Kyoto Experiment in Kyoto Art Theater, Shunjuza. 3 UMS CREATIVE TEAM Concept, Direction, and Music Optical Devices Ryoji Ikeda Norimichi Hirakawa Performers Stage Manager Stéphane Garin Simon MacColl Amélie Grould Technical Manager Programming, Graphics, Tomonaga Tokuyama and Computer System Tomonaga Tokuyama Production Assistant Norimichi Hirakawa Daisuke Sekine Yoshito Onishi PROGRAM superposition is approximately 65 minutes in duration and will be performed without intermission. FALL 2014 FALL These performances are supported by the Renegade Ventures Fund, established by Maxine and Stuart Frankel. Endowment support provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Endowment Fund. Funded in part by the Japan Foundation through the Performing Arts JAPAN program. SUPERPOSITION Media partnership is provided by WDET 101.9 FM. Special thanks to Fred Adams, Myron Campbell, Carol Rabuck, and the U-M Saturday Morning Physics Program; Chrisstina Hamilton and the U-M Penny W. Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series; and Justin Joque for their participation in events surrounding the performances of superposition. RYOJI IKEDA | IKEDA RYOJI 4 BE PRESENT ARTIST STATEMENT The new project superposition explores and is beyond our human comprehension. No a new notion of information: quantum one can know the very nature of nature. On information. such an extremely small scale, we can know The language of classical information only a single value of a single parameter from is BIT (binary digits) — 0 or 1, which is the the infinite facets of nature. most fundamental building block of our BIT is digital. QUBIT is analog — judgment and logical thoughts. analogous to nature. BIT is discrete. QUBIT The language of quantum information is continuous — a continuum. Quantum is QUBIT (quantum binary digits) — 0 and 1 computing is to read how sub-atomic superposed at the same time, which is a new particles behave by means of the language of way for us to capture the truth of nature at QUBIT; i.e. Nature computes. We decipher it. an extremely small sub-atomic scale — such Nature is always here and there. We as behaviors of photons or electrons. forcefully try to understand and demystify When we try to observe a sub-atomic the nature of nature by means of our particle we cannot know both its position scientific knowledge, but we’re also part of and its speed at the same time. Once we nature, nature is unthinkably vast — from observe the position, we understand the an atom to the universe. Some esoteric information of the position but lose that codes will remain secret and beyond of the speed. Before we observed the human comprehension, perhaps forever. position, the single sub-atomic particle was superposition is inspired by all FALL 2014 FALL actually located at all possible positions these thoughts and is foolhardily and simultaneously, which is the so-called quixotically aiming to explore the new “superposition state”. kind of information through art. In short, our observation fixes the position. It is unbelievably counterintuitive — Ryoji lkeda MORE ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE OF SUPERPOSITION Quantum superposition is a principle can also be in another configuration, of quantum theory that describes a then the world can be found in a state of challenging concept about the nature superposition of the two configurations, and behavior of matter and forces at where the amount of each configuration the sub-atomic level. The principle of in the superposition is specified by a superposition claims that while we do complex number. not know what the state of any object Quantum computing enables us to is, it is actually in all possible states understand the quantum behaviors of simultaneously. According to Erwin’s nature on an atomic scale. The language Schrödinger equation, which is linear, of quantum computing is Quantum Bit = a solution that takes into account all Qubit. Bit is the basic unit of information possible states will be a linear combination in computing and telecommunications of the solutions for each individual state. information. Bit equals 0 or 1, true or false, The principle of superposition on or off. claims that if the world can be in In quantum computing, a quantum any configuration, i.e. any possible bit is a quantum system that can exist arrangement of particles or fields, but in superposition of two bit values: 5 UMS 0 and 1, true and false, on and off. Once coexist. As opposed to the arithmetical we measure the position or speed of continuum of real numbers, the grey area an atomic particle, all superposed of qubit expands to the notion of complex states are reduced to a specific state. In projective line in projective geometry. other words, one cannot assign exact (In quantum mechanics, the Bloch simultaneous values to the position sphere is a geometrical representation and speed of an atomic particle. This of the pure state space of a two-level is called the Uncertainty Principle. quantum mechanical system. The points Quantum computing uses this principle on the surface alongside quantum entanglement and of the sphere superposition. represent the After almost a decade of research pure states of on the discrete and the continuous, a single qubit, mathematical beauty and sublimation, the interior Ryoji Ikeda has finally found a space of the sphere where all mathematical concepts find represents the an explanation in the notion of qubit, mixed states.) an infinite grey area between 0 and 1 in which probability and uncertainty Graphic: Bloch Sphere ARTISTS apan’s leading electronic composer type of data — text, sounds, photos, and and visual artist RYOJI IKEDA movies into barcode patterns and binary (concept, direction, music) focuses patterns of 0s and 1s, which examines FALL 2014 FALL J on the essential characteristics of sound the relationship between critical points itself and that of visuals as light by means of device performance and the threshold of both mathematical precision and of human perception. The series spectra mathematical aesthetics. Born in Gifu, (2001–present) is large-scale installations Japan and now living and working in Paris, employing intense white light as a Mr. Ikeda has gained a reputation as one sculptural material and so transforming of the few international artists working public locations in Amsterdam, Paris, convincingly across both visual and sonic Barcelona, and Nagoya where versions media. He elaborately orchestrates sound, have been installed. Mr. Ikeda works visuals, materials, physical phenomena, on a collaborative project with Carsten and mathematical notions into immersive Nicolai entitled cyclo. (2000–present), live performances and installations. which examines error structures and Alongside of pure musical activity, repetitive loops in software and computer Mr. Ikeda has been working on several programmed music, with audiovisual long-term projects: datamatics (2006– modules for real-time sound visualization, present) consists of various forms such as through live performance, CDs, and books SUPERPOSITION moving image, sculptural, sound, and new (Raster-Noton, 2001, 2011). media works that explore one’s potentials Mr. Ikeda has performed and exhibited to perceive the invisible multi-substance worldwide at venues including the of data that permeates our world. The Australian Centre for the Moving Image, project test pattern (2008–present) has Melbourne; MIT, Boston; Centre Pompidou, RYOJI IKEDA | IKEDA RYOJI developed a system that converts any Paris; Sónar Festival Barcelona; Tate 6 BE PRESENT Modern, London; Irish Museum of Modern Drancy, Gare de Bobigny, Auschwitz, Art, Dublin; Auditorium Parco della Musica, Birkenau, Chelmno-Kulmhof, Majdaneck, Roma; lCC, Tokyo; Art Beijing; Göteborg Sobibor, and Treblinka. Since 2005, Biennale; Elektra Festival Montreal; Le he has been working in collaboration Fresnoy, Tourcoing; Yamaguchi Center with the visual artist Sylvestre Gobart for Arts and Media; Le Laboratoire, Paris; on an artistic work on the memory of Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo; extermination during World War II Ikon Gallery, Birmingham; Singapore (France, Poland, Ukraine). It presents Art Museum; Crossing the Line Festival, recent pictures (photography and video) New York; Ars Electronica Center, Linz; and audio recordings taken on the very Grec Festival, Barcelona; Aichi Triennale, grounds of internment, deportation, Nagoya; Palazzo Grassi, Venezia; Armory and extermination. This work was Park Avenue, New York; Barbican Center, presented as an installation at Biarritz London; Museo de Arte, Bogota; Hamburger Multimedia Library and at Sol Del Rio Arte Bahnhof, Berlin; Laboral, Gijon; Festival Contemporanea Gallery in Guatemala. d’Automne, Paris; as well as electronic music festivals and small DJ clubs. AMÉLIE GROULD (performer) began His albums +/- (1996), 0°C (1998), studying flute at the age of six at the Val matrix (2000), dataplex (2005), and test Maubuée music school and then began pattern (2008) pioneered a new minimal learning percussion nine years later with world of electronic music through his Beatrice Répécaud and Jean Geoffroy. She razor-sharp technique and aesthetics. received three high distinctions in 2006 2014 FALL for music analysis, chamber music, and percussion.