The Black Hole Experience (BHX) is a mobile exhibition uniting the awe and wonder of nature and the cosmos with meditative reflection. Einstein once said, “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” Black holes are among the greatest scientific mysteries of our universe, and they can be a truly powerful symbol of humanity’s relationship with the unknown. But they can also teach us about ourselves, and how to bring positive change in the world; how we can process fear and curiosity, how we can grasp the natural inevitability of the non-binary, and how we can harness and integrate processes of destruction in acts of creation. Contemplating the vastness and complexity of the cosmos evokes feelings of humility and awe, reminding us of our place in the universe and our role on our own planet. This magnificent sense of interconnectedness can inspire a deeper appreciation for the beauty and wonder of the natural world, motivating us to protect and preserve it. The Black Hole Experience (BHX) is a unique mobile exhibition presented by Age of Union and conceived by Dax Dasilva and artist Kelly Nunes that draws on the physics of this celestial phenomenon to create an immersive, conceptual, and profound emotional experience for all participants, representing the change we all seek within.
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. it is the source of all true art and science” — einsteiN
Immersive spirituality is at the heart of one's experience of the Black Hole Experience (BHX) mobile exhibition. When you enter the Black Hole Room, you learn to seek light in darkness. Your fear of dark places transforms into a curiosity for the unknown. You uncover your own potential for growth and positive change from within.
01 By Stopping
You enter the Black Hole Experience and are invited to put everything aside.
02 By Looking
You sit and stare into the darkness of a black hole, and light emerges, creating a natural emotional reaction: calmness.
03 By Breathing
The sounds and light pulse, and you can’t help but slow your breath.
BHX is an immersive reset for humankind. It is an invitation for you to experience mental rest and a heightened sense of interconnectedness. To feel the light we radiate unto others in this world and the potential of the unknown to define a brighter future.
To achieve carbon neutrality for the Black Hole Experience tour, Age of Union is expanding its protection of the Kalaweit-Age of Union Dulan Forest Reserve in Borneo, Indonesia. In 2021, Age of Union partnered with Kalaweit to protect 3,700 acres of the Dulan Forest, a rich tropical rainforest and habitat for endangered species such as orangutans. By the end of 2023, in partnership with the local village of Butong, we expanded the area under protection to 5,000 acres and sponsored an ultralight seaplane that allowed aerial surveillance, seeding and fire prevention in this vital habitat. This year, we are collaborating with the village of Buntok Baru to expand the protected area.
LEARN ABOUT IT
The Black Hole Experience (BHX) is an immersive reset for humankind. It reminds each person who lives the experience about individual spirituality. To stop, reset and breathe. To feel wellbeing, awe and wonder. To foster a collective consciousness. To realize how we are all connected. An evolution of Black Hole Room, the Black Hole Experience reimagines this reset in a mobile format that will travel around North America in 2024. Through immersing individuals in the Black Hole Experience, environmental alliance Age of Union believes it will ignite the next generation of change makers.
“We have emerged from 14 billion years of cosmic evolution to arrive at a moment in history where there is life. Let’s understand the significance of this moment by observing the scale of that which came before us. We are descended from the Big Bang, black holes, stardust, culminating in one relatively brief cosmic moment of conscious life on Earth. Let’s not squander nor take it for granted.” — Kelly Nunes
Kelly Nunes
Kelly Nunes is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Montreal with a background in musical composition and scenic design, whose practice focuses on responsive environments. His passion for driving innovative technologies at the intersection of architecture and scenography to service transformative, human-centered environments pushes the boundaries of perception and storytelling.
Kelly Nunes
Dax Dasilva
Dax Dasilva is a Canadian tech entrepreneur, author, and environmentalist based in Montréal. He is CEO and Founder of global unified POS and payments platform, Lightspeed Commerce Inc., founder of the non-profit organization, Age of Union Alliance, which funds environmental conservation projects around the world, and author of the 2019 book Age of Union about leadership, culture, spirituality, and nature.
Dax Dasilva
Age of Union is a non-profit environmental alliance that supports and makes visible a global community of changemakers working on the ground to protect the planet’s threatened species and ecosystems. With 10 major projects across the world, Age of Union is supporting the conservation of critically endangered biodiverse forests and oceans around the world in regions such as and the Amazon rainforest, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Canada, and the protection of threatened species including leatherback turtles, orangutans, dolphins, lowland gorillas, and more. Age of Union is also actively involved in environmental documentary filmmaking. The organization has produced impactful short and feature documentaries that delve into the stories of dedicated changemakers. One such production, "Wildcat," earned acclaim as the "Outstanding Nature Documentary of 2023" at the prestigious 44th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards. Through immersing individuals in the Black Hole Experience, the environmental alliance Age of Union believes it can ignite the next generation of changemakers.