Rafaël Rozendaal’s silhouette of two faces kissing each other, Much Better Than This, will be shown on Times Square’s electronic billboards from 11:57 pm to midnight each night in February.
Artist Rafaël Rozendaal’s gorgeous, color changing silhouette of two faces kissing each other, Much Better Than This, will be shown on Times Square’s electronic billboards from 11:57 pm to midnight each night in February. This project is a part of Midnight Moment, a monthly presentation by The Times Square Advertising Coalition (TSAC) and Times Square Arts.
Rozendaal’s moving image exists online at www.muchbetterthanthis.com and has been viewed by tens of millions of people around the world. The work is privately owned by art collector Almar van der Krogt, but will always remain publicly accessible on the web. A work that immediately resonates during the Valentine’s Day season, Much Better Than This uses simple, powerful imagery to connect with viewers regardless of background, nationality, interests, or education.
Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance, said, “Everything from the annual Valentine Heart on Duffy Square to weddings, proposals and vow renewals can be found on the Broadway plazas this February. Rafaël Rozendaal’s stunning piece will be a beautiful kiss to mark a month celebrating Love in Times Square.”
Sherry Dobbin, Times Square Arts Director, said, “Rafaël has distilled hundreds of images of individuals kissing into one symbolic, color-blocking pair that will dominate the atmosphere of Times Square.”
“We’re excited to present the perfect piece for February’s Midnight Moment and help locals and visitors celebrate the month of love. As Times Square is known to host dozens of proposals all year round, especially on Valentine’s Day, Rafaël Rozendaal will surely enhance the iconic backdrop this year with this stunning and timely visual ,” said Harry Coghlan, Chairman of the Times Square Advertising Coalition.
“Times Square is the world’s best place to spread a message and our sign operators are delighted to help Rafaël Rozendaal share his Valentine’s Day message with New York and the visitors from around the world as part of the February Midnight Moment,” said Fred Rosenberg, President of the Times Square Advertising Coalition.
Rafaël Rozendaal, artist, said “Love is an important subject. I hoped that making this work would bring more love to my life and it did. Now I hope that Times Square will be filled with people kissing each other in the heart of a giant city.”
The following digital screens are participating in the February Midnight Moment:
ABC Super Sign, American Eagle Times Square, Bank of America, Branded Cities 7 Times Square, Branded Cities 1 Times Square, Branded Cities NASDAQ Tower Times Square, Branded Cities Thomson Reuters, Outfront Media 1515 Broadway/ Viacom North & South, CEMUSA, City Outdoor, Clear Channel Spectacolor HD127/CNN, Clear Channel Spectacolor HD128, Superior Digital Displays Three Times Square #5
This program is supported as part of the Dutch Culture USA program by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York.
Midnight Moment is the largest coordinated effort in history by the sign operators in Times Square to display synchronized, cutting-edge creative content on electronic billboards and newspaper kiosks throughout Times Square every night. The program premiered in May 2012 and is organized and supported by the Times Square Advertising Coalition in partnership with Times Square Arts, the public art program of the Times Square Alliance, with additional partners of participating sign holders and artists.
Each night, Times Square becomes a digital art gallery through dazzling visuals on select billboards and newsstands. Every show begins at 11:57 p.m. with a “countdown” that signals the start of the three minute nightly presentation. Past artists featured in the program include Sebastian Errazuriz, Charles Atlas and Antony, Noah Hutton, Ryoji Ikeda, Daniel Canogar, Alfredo Jaar; Isaac Julien; Robert Wilson; Tracey Emin; Seoungho Cho; Vicki DaSilva, Surabhi Saraf, and Elly Cho; Erika Janunger; Takeshi Murata; Bel Borba with Burt Sun and André Costantini; Zach Nader; Brian Gonzalez (aka Taxiplasm); Björk; JR; Ryan McGinley; Jack Goldstein; Nature Theater of Oklahoma; Ezra Wube; Laleh Khorramian; Brian Dailey; Leslie Thornton; and Yoko Ono. For more information on past projects, please visit http://www.timessquarenyc.org/times-square-arts/projects/midnight-moment/index.aspx.
Rafaël Rozendaal is a Dutch-Brazilian visual artist who lives and works in New York and uses the Internet as his canvas. His artistic practice consists of websites, installations, lenticulars, writings and lectures. Spread out over a vast network of domain names, he attracts a large online audience of over 30 million visits per year. Selected Exhibitions: Centre Pompidou, Venice Biennial, Valencia Biennial, Casa Franca Brasil Rio, TSCA Gallery Tokyo, Seoul Art Square, NIMk Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum project space. Selected Press: Time Magazine, Wall street Journal, Flash Art, Dazed & Confused, Interview, Wired, Purple, McSweeney’s, O Globo, Vice, Creators Project, Artreview, Metropolis M, +81, La Repubblica, Vogue. For more information, please visit http://www.newrafael.com or www.facebook.com/newrafael and follow on Twitter and Instagram at @newrafael.
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Times Square Advertising Coalition (TSAC) is a trade association comprised of major advertisers, retailers, real estate firms, media companies and other businesses involved in the outdoor sign industry in Times Square, along with organizations representing Broadway and the community. Members of TSAC include: ABC Regional Sports & Entertainment Sales, Clear Channel Spectacolor, Daktronics, D3 LED, Digital Domination, Hines Management, Jamestown One Times Square, Lamar Advertising Company, Landmark Sign & Electric, Metro Media Technologies, Newmark Knight Frank, North Shore Neon, P.R.omotion!, Sherwood Outdoor, SL Green, Times Square Alliance, The WOW Factor and Thomson Reuters. www.timessquareadcoalition.org. Follow TSAC on twitter at @TSACNYC.
Times Square Arts, the public art program of the Times Square Alliance, collaborates with contemporary artists and cultural institutions to experiment and engage with one of the world’s most iconic urban places. Through the Square’s electronic billboards, public plazas, vacant areas and popular venues, and the Alliance’s own online landscape, Times Square Arts invites leading contemporary creators to help the public see Times Square in new ways. Times Square has always been a place of risk, innovation and creativity, and the Arts Program ensures these qualities remain central to the district’s unique identity. Generous support of Times Square Arts is provided by the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Visit http://www.timessquarenyc.org/times-square-arts/index.aspx for more information. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @TSqArts.