David Hockney’s Digital Artwork Commissioned by CIRCA is on View in London, New York, Seoul, and Tokyo

A new video work by David Hockney, one of the world’s most celebrated living artists, will be unveiled across a network of the world’s most iconic outdoor video screens in London, New York, Seoul and Tokyo this May. The global collaboration, curated by Josef O’Connor, Founder and Artistic Director of CIRCA, an innovative new platform showcasing digital art in the public space, is in partnership with Times Square Arts’ Midnight Moment program in New York, the world’s largest, longest-running digital art exhibition, synchronized over 70 electronic billboards, COEX K-POP Square, the largest LED screen in Korea, and Yunika Vision in Japan.

David Hockney, said: “What does the world look like? We have to take time to see its beauty. That's what I hope my work will encourage people to do when they see it on the large screens.”

The new video, titled Remember you cannot look at the sun or death for very long, will be shown every evening throughout the month of May at the following times and locations:

• London: Piccadilly Lights, Europe’s largest screen at 20:21BST
• New York: Times Square across 70+ electronic billboards, at 23:57EST
• Seoul: Coex K-POP Square LED screen at 20:21KST
• Japan: Yunika Vision, Shinjuku at 09:00JST
• Online via the CIRCA.ART website every evening at 20:21BST

In this worldwide display of unity, Hockney’s animated sunrise offers a powerful symbol of hope and collaboration as many parts of the world awaken from lockdowns. In place of advertisements, members of the public living across these four cities are given the opportunity for a spontaneous encounter with Hockney’s meditation on the arrival of spring. Created on the artist’s iPad in Normandy, France, this global happening coincides with the release of Hockney’s new book Spring Cannot Be Cancelled and his Royal Academy exhibition The Arrival of Spring, Normandy, 2020 on view 23 May to 26 September 2021.

Jean Cooney, Director, Times Square Arts said: “We’re proud to be a part of this international collaboration featuring one of the world’s most renowned living artists advocating for hope and new horizons amidst the incredible uncertainty we face as a global society. This partnership across four countries marks the most expansive collaboration to date in Times Square’s Midnight Moment program’s nine-year history.”

Josef O’Connor, Artistic Director, CIRCA, said: “There has never been a better time for this shining image of hope, which links people across borders and continents to celebrate the arrival of spring. We are especially grateful to David Hockney, a master in exploring the boundaries of new media, for allowing CIRCA to present his work in such a bold and democratic way, connecting Piccadilly Lights with screens all around the world.”

Norman Rosenthal, Chairman of The CIRCA Council, added “I love the idea of sunrise at sunset. It’s a profound idea.”