ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Hiroshi Sugimoto's White Cinema Screens

artist · 2026-04-23

Hiroshi Sugimoto photographs blank cinema screens in darkened theaters and drive-ins to honor cinema's role in creating a modern American myth. Born in Tokyo and now based in New York, he began his theaters series in the late 1970s. From 1978 to 1980, he shot venues in the northeastern and midwestern United States, expanded to drive-ins in 1992, and returned to classic indoor theaters in 1993.

Key facts

  • Hiroshi Sugimoto photographs blank cinema screens
  • Series honors cinema's role in creating a modern American myth
  • Sugimoto was born in Tokyo and lives in New York
  • He began the theaters series in the late 1970s
  • Photographed northeastern and midwestern US theaters from 1978 to 1980
  • Expanded to drive-ins in 1992
  • Returned to indoor theaters in 1993

Entities

Artists

  • Hiroshi Sugimoto

Locations

  • Tokyo
  • New York
  • United States

Sources