Ground-truth transcriptions: sonic re-enactments of Paul Cullen’s one-meter reduced ruler series

Abstract

"Eight Thousand Layers of Moments" is a group exhibition that explores the concept of luck through diverse artistic perspectives. The exhibition features works that span multiple geographies and cultural contexts, addressing themes of chance, unpredictability, agency, and control within artistic production. By inviting viewers to consider various interpretations of luck, the exhibition seeks to deepen the understanding of how luck intersects with place, privilege, history, and language. The title of the exhibition is inspired by a line from Celine Song’s 2023 film Past Lives, which challenges the notion of isolated existence through a narrative informed by the concept of ‘inyeon’ in Korean Buddhism. Inyeon, meaning "direct cause" (in/因) and "indirect cause" (yeon/緣), provides a framework for understanding why certain beings meet in specific places and times, touching on ideas of providence and fate. Within the exhibition, inyeon serves as a lens to discuss the convergence of multiple geographies and cultural contexts, and how luck, as a human experience, helps make sense of chance events and their consequences. This exhibition is a collaborative effort between doctoral students and alumni from the Academy of Fine Arts, Uniarts Helsinki, and the Elam School of Fine Arts at Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland. It is part of a broader exchange among the participating artists, which includes an experimental publication and a reciprocal exhibition in Helsinki. Artist: Roma Anderson, Katrina Beekhuis, Matthew Cowan, Paul Cullen, Miklos Gaál, Matthew Galloway, Henna-Riikka Halonen, Sean Kerr, Yukari 海堀 Kaihori, Louise Menzies, Ilya Orlov, Mirimari Väyrynen, Denise Ziegler My contribution, "Ground-truth Transcriptions," involves a multifaceted exploration of Paul Cullen’s one-meter reduced ruler series. This work includes sonic re-enactments that translate the physical measurements into auditory experiences, creating a unique interplay between visual and sonic art forms. Additionally, I developed an AI-driven Unity project that interprets Cullen's ruler works into MIDI compositions. These compositions are played in the gallery, offering an immersive experience that bridges traditional art with contemporary digital interpretations. Through this innovative approach, my work aims to highlight the intersections of technology, art, and perception, inviting viewers to engage with Cullen's series in a novel and dynamic way.