Artist and photographer Justin Aversano, known for his 'Twin Flames' project, has embarked on a new global endeavor titled 'Moments of the Unknown.' This project, driven by the universal theme of love, documents human intimacy across all seven continents through a series of brief video portraits and a feature-length documentary. The work is currently being presented as an exhibition at Glitch Gallery in Marfa, Texas, and a documentary screening at the Crowley Theater as part of Art Blocks Marfa Weekend.
Key Takeaways
- Justin Aversano's 'Moments of the Unknown' documents love and human connection globally.
- The project features video portraits and a documentary with soundscapes from the Voyager Golden Record.
- Aversano traveled to all seven continents, including Antarctica, capturing spontaneous human interactions.
- Each daily portrait from the project is being auctioned as a single-edition NFT.
- The artist emphasizes the project's focus on unity and the diverse forms of love beyond romance.
A Global Journey Documenting Humanity
Aversano's latest work began with a simple idea: to document love. He traveled with just his camera and intuition, allowing encounters to unfold naturally. The project evolved beyond still photography into an audio-visual experiment, blending hundreds of short video portraits with unique sound elements.
Originally, the film was conceived as a silent experience. However, Aversano decided to incorporate soundscapes. These sounds are not random; they come from the 'Voyager Golden Record,' a phonograph record launched into space in 1977. This record contains sounds and images of Earth, compiled by a NASA committee chaired by Carl Sagan.
"I wanted to reintegrate that historical movement in culture and space exploration—and use it as the soundtrack for a film about cultures and continents around the world and how they’re connected," Aversano stated.
Each geographical location featured in the film resonates with a fragment from these sounds. The record includes voices speaking in 55 languages, with United Nations delegates simply saying "Hello." The documentary culminates with the poignant line, "Hello from the children of planet Earth."
Project Details
- Duration: Filmed over two years.
- Release Schedule: Daily portrait and video releases began April 8th, concluding April 7th, 2026.
- NFTs: Each daily portrait is auctioned as a single-edition NFT.
The Universal Language of Love
'Moments of the Unknown' explores love in its many forms. It goes beyond romantic love to include family bonds, friendships, and a broader sense of human unity. Aversano discovered that love manifests in diverse ways during his journey.
"What I discovered while shooting is that love has so many forms," he explained. "It became about unity, closeness, intimacy. The love of humanity and recognizing we are one human family."
The artist did not scout for subjects. Each morning, he woke up without a plan for who he would meet. He aimed for authentic human encounters, capturing children, elders, strangers, and entire families as they appeared. This spontaneous approach ensures a genuine portrayal of global human connection.
Personal Touches and Recurring Themes
Aversano quietly inserts himself into his projects. In 'Moments of the Unknown,' his first appearance is a brief cameo in a New Orleans barbershop. He describes it as wanting to be a "prop in her portrait." Another self-portrait appears at Stonehenge on his birthday, a deliberate nod to his earlier work, 'The Birthday Project.' He calls this connection an "Easter egg," linking a decade of his artistic endeavors.
The recurring sound of heartbeats in the documentary's soundtrack carries personal significance. Aversano shared that these heartbeats belong to his family: his dad, sister, and brother. These sounds represent moments where he felt a strong sense of presence and love.
A familiar theme for Aversano is the appearance of twins. He often encounters them, a reference to his highly successful 'Twin Flames' project. This earlier work, which featured photos of twin siblings minted as NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain in 2021, gained significant attention, including an auction at Christie's and admirers like Snoop Dogg and Gary Vaynerchuk.
The 'Twin Flames' Legacy
Justin Aversano's 'Twin Flames' project, consisting of 100 photographs of twin siblings, became a landmark in the NFT art world. It demonstrated the potential for blockchain technology to provide proof of scarcity for digital artwork, creating significant value for what was traditionally freely shareable content. The project's success helped elevate photography NFTs into the mainstream art market.
The Most Remote Chapter and Daily Reflections
The journey for 'Moments of the Unknown' took Aversano to some of the planet's most isolated locations. He described the Antarctica chapter as the most remote, involving a two-day boat trip from Argentina, followed by seven days of shooting, and another two days for the return journey.
When asked to name his favorite country, Aversano offered a philosophical response: "You can’t choose a favorite when it’s all one." This perspective underscores the project's central theme of global unity.
Aversano shot the project two years ago. He is now releasing each portrait and video on the same calendar day it was originally captured. This daily release schedule began on April 8th and will continue for three years, concluding on April 7th, 2026. Every evening, he writes a diary entry about the person he met that day, offering intimate reflections on his experiences.
Each daily portrait is also being auctioned as a single-edition NFT. Aversano hosts daily X Spaces at 12 pm ET to discuss the ongoing auction and share insights into the project. When asked about the ultimate takeaway for viewers, Aversano's response was simple and profound: "Did you feel something? That’s all I want." His emotional reception in Marfa, where he was moved to tears, further highlights the project's powerful impact.