Federico Solmi's 'American Circus' Takes Over Times Square Midnight Moment
On July 2019, from 11:57 PM until midnight, Federico Solmi's video artwork 'American Circus' was showcased on the advertising screens of Times Square as part of the Midnight Moment initiative by Times Square Arts. Born in Bologna in 1973 and currently residing in New York, the Italian artist offers a satirical commentary on modern society. This installation, displayed across 25 screens, examines themes of excess and celebrity culture. Since its inception in 2012, Midnight Moment has grown to be the world’s largest digital art exhibition, featuring notable artists such as Yoko Ono and Björk. Solmi, following Marco Brambilla, critiques consumerism and power through his innovative fusion of painting and digital media. Future exhibitions are scheduled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and Tucson Museum of Art.
Key facts
- Federico Solmi's 'American Circus' is shown on Times Square screens nightly from 11:57 PM to midnight throughout July 2019.
- The installation is part of Midnight Moment, a program by Times Square Arts.
- Midnight Moment is the largest and longest-running digital art exhibition in the world, launched in 2012.
- Solmi is the second Italian artist to participate, after Marco Brambilla in March 2015.
- The work rotates across 25 screens on all sides of the square.
- Solmi describes the piece as a mirror reflecting Times Square's excess and consumerism.
- His technique combines traditional painting with video game systems, motion capture, and 3D modeling.
- Upcoming exhibitions include the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Tarble Art Center, Tucson Museum of Art, and Serlachius Museum.
Entities
Artists
- Federico Solmi
- Yoko Ono
- Sophie Calle
- Alex Da Corte
- JR
- Emilio Perez
- Nick Cave
- Alfredo Jaar
- Laurie Anderson
- Björk
- Marco Brambilla
Institutions
- Times Square Arts
- Ronald Feldman Gallery
- Luis De Jesus
- B3 – Biennial of the Moving Image
- Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery
- Tarble Art Center
- Tucson Museum of Art
- Serlachius Museum
- Armory Show
Locations
- Times Square
- New York
- United States
- Bologna
- Italy
- Washington DC
- Charleston
- Illinois
- Tucson
- Arizona
- Mänttä
- Finland
- Los Angeles