Age of Union Alliance, a non-profit environmental organization led by Dax Dasilva, is bringing its immersive exhibition, ‘The Black Hole Experience’ (BHX), to Times Square in New York City from August 2-4, 2024. The debut in New York City is in collaboration with Refraction, an artist-owned community leading the next wave of digital art, music, and culture. Designed exclusively for Age of Union by multidisciplinary artist Kelly Nunes, BHX aims to ignite the next generation of changemakers and foster a collective consciousness by immersing individuals in a visually stunning environment inspired by black holes.
The Black Hole Experience is housed in a 53′ double expandable trailer with an impressive 1000 sq. ft. of interior space. Visitors journey through an LED tunnel leading to the black hole projection chamber, where they sit enveloped from all angles by celestial and black hole phenomena. There are also two antichamber rooms for waiting and exiting, providing information about the experience and Age of Union.
The Black Hole Room draws inspiration from the Spirituality pillar of Dasilva’s book, ‘Age of Union,’ which explores the meaning of spirituality in a modern world. It encourages seeking light in the darkness, exchanging fear for curiosity, and finding potential for growth and positive change in the unknown. BHX fosters a meditative experience that taps into the widespread fascination with the cosmos, reignited by recent celestial events like the 2024 solar eclipse and aurora borealis sightings.
By immersing individuals in a visually stunning environment inspired by black holes, Age of Union aims to cultivate a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world, even among those who don’t typically meditate.
“The Black Hole Experience goes beyond just being an exhibition,” says Dax Dasilva. “It is an expedition into the core of our consciousness. By immersing individuals in a visually stunning environment inspired by black holes, Age of Union aims to cultivate a sense of appreciation for the natural world and inspire active participation in its preservation. We are thrilled to announce that BHX will be in New York City’s Times Square in collaboration with Refraction, allowing us to share this impactful experience with a vibrant community in one of the world’s largest cities.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Age of Union to bring The Black Hole Experience to New York City,” says Malcolm Levy, founder of Refraction Festival. “Bringing BHX to New York City is an opportunity for attendees to discover the potential for growth and positive change in the unknown. At Refraction festival, our mission is to push the boundaries of digital art, music, and culture, and this collaboration marks an exciting step forward in that journey.”
About Age of Union Alliance:
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. Launched in October 2021 by tech leader and environmental activist Dax Dasilva in Montreal, Canada, Age of Union seeks to ignite a flame within every person through conservation efforts that solve critical environmental challenges around the world and inspire high-impact change by showing the positive impact that every individual can make. 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.
