Alain Nu: A Mysterious World Unveiled
By: Winyan Soo Hoo
For Alain Nu, magic is no bag
of tricks. More a mentalist than entertainer, the renowned magician teaches
people to think creatively by tapping into the supernatural. His philosophy is
simple: seek to amaze by way of uncanny demonstrations and mind readings, and
encourage others to do likewise. The everyman supposedly commands such powers. Nu’s
explanation is, however, a bit more complex.
“Some
people view magic as a fraud or a corny illusion, but I believe that it’s
become the art of exploring your dreams and fantasies,” he said. “You will be
able to create the impossible, as long as you’re able to make it real in the
hearts of people. I feel all magicians have an ability to amaze people into
thinking about their own selves and new ways of doing things, even if people
think it’s a hoax.”
Drawing
influences from childhood, Chinese qigong and the Fortean philosophy, a theory that
documents strange phenomena, Nu unravels mysteries through original techniques.
He has, of course, bent spoons with the mind, hypnotized, mesmerized, and
visualized all of what appears unreal.
“I
have people blindfold me by placing coins on top of my eyes and then securing
it with Duck tape,” Nu said. “Once I’m in complete darkness, I can sense
certain things around me which are not visible to the naked eye. I might divine
the serial number on a dollar bill … It’s a little bit of a guessing game, but
there are many psychological elements to it that make it subtler than that.”
Although
Nu remains mum about his methods, he provides clues
on how one can develop similar skills – he asks people to meditate on personal
strengths and think outside of the box.
“For
instance, I always know when my mother calls before she does – I contemplate
those kinds of topics,” he said. “I hope that people might question why they
know that it’s going to rain before it actually rains, or how they execute
proper verbiage to get what they want. Once people contemplate their abilities,
they can hone in on their true talents.
Nu also
claims that he can put two people under a hypnotic spell and cause them to sense
the other’s feelings. Fellow magician and friend David London is one of the few
people who have seen Nu’s repertoire develop over the years.
“I
think he’s someone obsessed with mystery,” London said. “He is a mystery man; you are never sure of
anything he does. He is mysterious; his performance and demonstrations are also
mysterious. He always floats between what’s real and what’s not.”
In
the entertainment world, Nu’s enigmatic persona booked him shows at corporate and
academic institutions nationwide and a television series on TLC called, “The
Mysterious World of Alain Nu.” Beginning Oct. 23, Nu will tour state colleges,
with the first presentation at Louisiana Tech.
Minutes after his television
series aired on TLC, Nu was surprised to find his e-mail inbox flooded with
questions about serious ailments and requests for advice.
“My heart went out to all of them, but I feel my work is best
appreciated as an experience,” Nu said. “That and I don’t own a license to be a
therapist.”
The
show last aired in 2005, and Nu now has a different show in the works. This
time he plans to collaborate with his wife Tanya, an electronic musician, and London.
Nu’s
projects are on a temporary hold as he takes on his most challenging act to date
– life as a new father. A few months ago, Tanya gave birth to healthy baby girl
named Nicolette, who may learn a “trick” or two from dad.
“The
most magical thing that I’ve ever experienced was watching my daughter be born
Sept. 23, coincidentally with Rosh Hashanah – the Jewish New Year,” Nu said. “It
worked out perfectly.”
|