“Until There Was Nothing” (2020) by Paul Trillo

“…or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Black Hole”
A philosophical video and art exploration of the Earth’s passage through a black hole.

Ongoing Theme: Shared Humanity

The world as we know it is acting out of character. The ocean, the cityscape, rivers and valleys are all flexible. They fold, bend, curve. The stark landscapes break out into beams of energy and reach for the sky. It all feels like a dream, and the film argues that so is life.

British philosopher Alan Watts adds commentary to this dream-like visual experience – literally giving it the shape of a black hole. His voice is not clear but the snippets that come through talk of transience, death, nothingness. At first his laughter sounds almost sinister as he tells the listener to cheer up. “The most real state is the state of nothingness”, he says. And if you have ever entered a state of true meditation, you will know exactly what he means. It is the feeling of being one with the universe. It is the nothingness that is an end but also a new beginning; an exit from our fixed ‘reality’ and an entry into the fluid, vast emptiness that lies beyond.

This film was made under quarantine by the filmmaker who repurposed old and unused footage from previous projects to create something new. Watching this mind-bending film feels oddly relieving, as if it mirrors what many of us have been experiencing within. The filmmaker suggests viewing it on a full screen, with the volume up, and a reclining chair.