psemme

This is the beginning of a short series to help explain 10eo – what it is and how it works.

10eo is an art form defined by its exploration of authenticity and objective truth. It is an examination of trust.

Foundational questions:

• How do you know the piece of art you are admiring was, in fact, created by the artist?
• How do you know the artist is who they say they are?
• How do we know anything is true?
• What is trust built upon?

10eo provides a framework for entertaining and evaluating these questions.

A 10eo artwork is, similar to music, comprised of two components, an algorithm, called an “algo”, and a performance. Algos are created by “authors” and are, in essence, a series of instructions. A performance is the execution of an algo’s instructions and, critically, the verification by some external source, that the instructions were accurately and authentically accomplished. This verification step is called a proof-of-effort (PoE). A completed 10eo piece can be considered a source of truth, a root of trust.

Here’s an example.

First, an algo must get created.  I authored this one:

10eo – Algo #3

Author – Peter Semmelhack
Date/Time – 04/21/24 11:12AM EST
Latitude : 40.781
Longitude : -73.980

Summary – execute two steps over the course of one hour in the same location

Transient #1

• Place – Anywhere in Manhattan, NY USA
• Date/Time – April 21, 2024 – any one hour window between Noon – 4PM EST
• On a piece of light colored graph paper, draw three rectangles, using any drawing instrument you want, anywhere on the page.
• >>proof-of-effort

Transient #2

• Place – anywhere in Manhattan, NY USA
• Date/Time – April 21, 2024 – any one hour window between Noon – 4PM EST
• Take the piece of paper from Step #1, make 3 separate folds in the paper and then open the page up to full size again.
• >>proof-of-effort

COMPLETE

A couple points of note:

• There is no “official” way to create an algo.  It could be written like this, painted on a wall or chiseled in stone. It could even by sung or presented in sign language.
• The individual instruction steps are called transients.
• An algo must contain at least one transient. There is no maximum limit.

There are only three algo *rules*. Every transient must include:

1. A location requirement
2. A date/time requirement
3. An action to be performed

Second, the definition of a 10eo “piece” is the performance of an algo.  This image is a performance of the above Algo #3.

Algo #3’s transients are general enough that the performer has a lot of leeway for creative expression. You’ll notice the three drawn squares (transient #1) and three folds (transient #2). Another performance of this algo would, obviously, produce a different result. Like a musical composition, each performance brings it’s own interpretation.

The only *rule* for a performance is that after the completion of each transient, the performer must provide a PoE. In the image above you’ll notice two sets of stamps and signatures. These were provided by a notarist, which is a person who’s specific role/function is to verify the existence of a person, thing or action. In this case, the notarist verified that the performer successfully and accurately executed each transient, and marked the paper accordingly.

Algo #3 contains two transients, the performance provides PoE for them both. This piece is considered “complete”. And since, the date/time requirements have passed, this Algo is now expired and can’t be accurately performed again.

My next post will provide more details on PoE and it’s importance to 10eo.