Sál Original

Sál (“soul”) is a live media opera exploring the universal concept of impermanence, emphasizing the ever-changing essence of life.

As the final chapter of a trilogy, Sál builds upon the narrative threads established in the two previous live performances, Ljós (2014) and Dökk (2017). Ljós (“light”) explores the theme of birth, “coming into the light”, while Dökk (“darkness”) delves into the concept of interdependence, revealing how each element is inevitably connected to the others in a dynamic balance. In Sál, the focus shifts to the horizon, to the boundary of human life, embracing the notion that everything is in a state of constant transformation, that everything is impermanent.

Sál explores this fleeting threshold between one state and another, examining the intricate emotional dynamics that unfold in these moments of uncertainty and instability. The piece invites a deep contemplation of life’s inherent entropy, encouraging the audience to surrender to the precious fragility of life.

Everything is in constant change; nothing is permanent. Each moment is born and, in dying, clears the way for the next. Every sound arrives and then fades away, everything vanishes before our eyes. Visions, flavors, sounds, physical touch, relationships - all share the same nature: impermanent, fleeting, ephemeral. Nature shows us how everything that exists, from the microscopic to the cosmic scale, is in a state of constant transformation. Observing a cell under a microscope, we can see that even the smallest particles exist in a continuous flow, living and dying moment by moment.

The same dynamic can be observed in our universe: impermanence governs galaxies, stars, and black holes. At every moment, something fades away, and something else explodes into existence. Just like us, stars and galaxies are born, live for a time, and then die.

In our human experience, it is precisely when we confront death that we come into undeniable contact with the idea that nothing is permanent.

Those who provide end-of-life care, or who have experienced accompanying someone in their final moments, bear witness to this. Accompaniment is an intimate and personal encounter with the unknown; it is an act of presence and support.

To accompany someone, one must be willing to confront their own pain in order to truly connect with the pain of others. These principles, described in Frank Ostaseski’s book The Five Invitations, have inspired the narrative structure of Sál, particularly the relationship between the two performers

In Sál, the dancers move through an unstable space that reflects the tension between past and future, opening themselves to vulnerability and embracing every aspect of the human experience.

Impermanence compels us to face the unknown and the sense of mystery: the fear and wonder we experience when encountering something beyond our full comprehension. To represent this, the visual narrative of Sál focuses on observing what happens to light and matter in the vicinity of black holes through a series of simulations developed in collaboration with the University of KU Leuven and Toronto University.

Black holes, with their extreme gravitational fields, challenge both quantum mechanics and general relativity, leading to profound questions about the nature of time itself. Approaching the event horizon means approaching a boundary beyond which nothing can escape - not even light. This boundary separates the known from the unknown, the tangible from the mysterious.

Ultimately, Sál invites us to embrace the instability of our lives and the vertigo we feel when faced with the inevitable dissolution of familiar forms. These moments of uncertainty and disorientation often become opportunities to rediscover kindness and compassion, reconnecting deeply with our human nature, with our soul. Sál.