Both Ljós and Dökk are deeply characterized by aesthetic elements inspired by the study of the physical properties of celestial matter. In Sál, our research has been guided by the exploration of General Relativity, focusing on one of the most fascinating cosmic entities that embody its fundamental principles: black holes.

Black holes are at the heart of many contemporary scientific investigations because they represent extreme environments where the laws of physics, particularly general relativity and quantum mechanics, intersect in complex and often unresolved ways. In Sál, the visual development of the performance is centered around an exploration of what happens to light and matter near black holes - regions where nature reveals itself in its most extreme form. In these areas, gravity is so intense that it bends space and time, seemingly distorting the path of light itself.

Sál unfolds across five chapters, each defined by visual elements and scientific simulations exploring phenomena related to the behavior of light and matter around a black hole. The progression of scenes is inspired by the process of elemental dissolution, drawing from diverse traditions—from ancient Greece to major Eastern philosophies—that conceive life as composed of four or more fundamental elements: earth, water, fire, and air. The Zohar, a 13th-century Jewish mystical text, established these four elements as the foundation of all phenomena, including the human body. Other traditions, such as Indian thought and Chinese philosophy, similarly describe five or six fundamental elements. Buddhism, in particular, emphasizes that each element is not a static entity but a continuously shifting process, describing how the elements that make up the body dissolve at the moment of death. Each element carries both physical and mental qualities: the solidity and softness of earth, the fluidity and cohesion of water, the radiance and warmth of fire, and the stillness and motion of air.

The process of dissolution, then, is not limited to the body but also extends to the mind: the fundamental elements are emotional states and mental functions, creative processes and lingering traces of the past. It is a way to understand and come to terms with the fact that, in the process of dying, we release our fixed identities—letting go of the physical elements of the body, our thoughts, perceptions, sensations, and conditioning.

1. Revelation - Twilight Sleep

The journey begins in a liminal state between wakefulness and sleep, where boundaries dissolve and the theme of accompaniment emerges. To stand beside someone in transition evokes uncertainty, fear, and vulnerability, as both the one accompanying and the one being accompanied struggle between holding on and letting go. When defenses give way, deeper emotions surface, demanding surrender. As resistance dissolves, instability transforms into acceptance, and the path begins to reveal itself.  

In this section, the visual environment is created using FOORT, a software designed to visualize the gravitational lensing effect on matter surrounding a black hole. While FOORT is traditionally used to simulate light emissions from a black hole, in this case, it has been adapted to highlight the gravitational distortion of objects positioned behind it. This adaptation allows for a visual exploration of how the immense gravitational forces of the black hole warp the surrounding space.  

The universe emerging in the background was generated using the EAGLE simulation—the same one employed for the final scenes of Dökk—establishing a narrative continuity between the two chapters of the trilogy.

2. Abyss - Ground dissolves into Water

In the second chapter, the solid foundations of body and mind begin to crumble. Control, strength, and clarity dissolve, giving way to a sensation of lightness, disorientation, and fear—like sinking into the depths of an ocean. At first, resistance intensifies the struggle, but true transition only occurs when one surrenders to the flow and relinquishes control.  

The imagery draws inspiration from plasma dynamics, particularly its fluid movements and the forces generated by interactions with magnetic fields. Plasma, an electrically conductive gas, behaves differently from ordinary fluids as it generates electromagnetic fields that influence its motion. This phenomenon, known as magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), is fundamental in the study of plasma, especially in astrophysical contexts such as black holes.  

Simulations using BHAC reveal that plasma behavior changes drastically when its electromagnetic properties are considered. MHD exposes the powerful forces governing plasma, such as the formation of relativistic jets that emanate from black hole poles, traveling at nearly the speed of light. These forces, combined with plasma’s fluid nature, form the visual and conceptual foundation of the second section of Sál, exploring the intricate relationship between plasma and magnetic fields in astrophysical events. The simulations employed are based on BHAC, using the specific initial conditions of FMTorus, a hydrodynamic equilibrium solution developed by Fishbone & Moncrief (1976).

3.  Time slips - Water dissolves into Fire

This section marks the transition from fluidity to fire, where intense emotions erupt—love, rage, passion, pain. Suspended between past and future, the mind oscillates between nostalgia and anticipation, seeking stillness within chaos. It is like dancing in a storm, balancing on the fragile edge between control and surrender. At the heart of movement, a paradox emerges: without stillness, dance would not exist, and yet, there is only dance.  

Here, the focus shifts to the extreme dynamics at the edge of a black hole, particularly the phenomenon of magnetic reconnection. This process occurs when magnetic fields collide, ejecting matter in opposite directions. fuse* has drawn from this concept to explore plasma behavior, highlighting its similarities to fluid dynamics observed in other systems and expanding our understanding of its role in astrophysical events. These phenomena have been simulated using BHAC with the "Harris current sheet" configuration, an equilibrium solution to the Maxwell-Vlasov equations.

4.  Sparkling - Fire dissolves into Air

When the fire subsides in the fourth chapter, it makes way for air. Struggle and turmoil dissolve, leaving only the rhythm of breath—a fragile yet persistent presence. Time flows without weight, revealing the impermanence of existence. In this state of transcendence, thoughts drift like wind, unanchored yet at peace.  

A radical transformation becomes evident: simulations, once guided by clear and scientifically precise patterns, are distorted and disrupted. This shift not only breaks controlled structures but also serves as a powerful metaphor for impermanence. What seems structured and predictable can dissolve in moments of crisis, mirroring the fragility and unpredictability of life itself.

This section continues to use the same simulation as the previous one.