Tri City Drive-In 1993

"Tri City Drive-In" is a black and white photograph by Hiroshi Sugimoto, part of his series documenting American movie theaters. Sugimoto, born in Tokyo after World War II, brings a unique perspective as an observer of American cultural landscapes. Here, we see the screen of a drive-in theater illuminated by the light of a film, yet the film itself is invisible. Sugimoto has described his artistic process as "a way to see the future through the past." His work is deeply tied to time, memory, and perception. The series explores the intersection of art, cinema, and photography, while also drawing on the historical context of post-war American leisure culture, and its relationship with social identity. The empty playground in the foreground evokes feelings of solitude and nostalgia. The glow of the screen contrasts with the darkness of the surroundings. Sugimoto invites us to meditate on the passage of time, on the narratives we tell ourselves, and on the shared experiences that shape our understanding of culture.