Tomokazu Matsuyama Lights Up Times Square With “Morning Again”
Over 90 LED screens synchronize nightly to showcase his abstract video art.
Summary
- Tomokazu Matsuyama debuts “Morning Again” at Times Square Arts’ Midnight Moment, running nightly from April 1 – 30, 2026
- Over 90 LED screens synchronize for three minutes, replacing ads with abstract imagery of hope, rhythm, self‑expression, and transformation
For one month starting April 1, 2026, Brooklyn-based artist Tomokazu Matsuyama will take over New York’s Times Square with his latest digital public art project, “Morning Again.” As part of the prestigious Midnight Moment program, the city’s largest and longest-running digital art series, Matsuyama’s work will synchronize across more than 96 massive LED screens from 41st to 49th Streets. Every night for three minutes – from 11:57 p.m. to midnight – the usual commercial advertisements will vanish, replaced by a 180-second cinematic experience that merges the city’s pulse with Matsuyama’s vibrant, cross-cultural aesthetic.
Born in Gifu, Japan and seasoned by decades in the cultural melting pot of New York, Tomokazu Matsuyama is widely recognized for his ability to bridge disparate worlds. His practice often blends Edo-period iconography and traditional Japanese craft with Western Pop art, street culture, and Abstract Expressionism.
“Morning Again” emphasizes four key elements – hope, rhythm, self‑expression and transformation – rather than depicting specific figures. These abstract motifs unfold as shifting shapes, glowing light and vibrant hues that mirror the city’s pulse. The work highlights how diverse cultural energies intersect and overlap, creating a shared urban identity. In a time marked by uncertainty and division, Matsuyama’s installation quietly affirms diversity and individuality while suggesting the possibility of moving forward together.
In keeping with Matsuyama’s signature style, the piece intentionally avoids a fixed hierarchy of imagery, allowing histories and diverse identities to coexist within the same frame. This approach reflects his ongoing exploration of “borderless identity” and how narratives overlap in an increasingly interconnected global society.
