In a city that never sleeps, the darkness of night often feels like a distant memory. Yet, as artificial light continues to erase natural darkness worldwide, artist Jan Tichy confronts this quiet crisis head-on in his latest exhibition. Drawing from insights gathered from entomologists, neurobiologists, and other scientists, Tichy’s work probes the profound cultural and ecological consequences of disappearing nights.

Tichy’s exhibition, recently unveiled at the MSU Broad Museum, is a meditation on the essential role darkness plays in shaping human identity and the natural world. By blending scientific research with captivating visual installations, the show challenges New Yorkers to reconsider their relationship with light and darkness amid the city’s ceaseless glow. The artist’s narrative is not just about loss but also about the urgent need to reclaim the night as a vital part of urban life.

The collaboration with experts across disciplines highlights how artificial light disrupts ecosystems, particularly affecting insect populations crucial to biodiversity. Neurobiological perspectives reveal how our circadian rhythms and mental health are intertwined with natural cycles of light and dark — cycles increasingly interrupted in urban environments like New York City. Through immersive pieces, Tichy invites viewers to experience the void left by fading darkness and to reflect on what is at stake.

For New Yorkers, whose nights are dominated by streetlights and illuminated skyscrapers, this exhibition offers a rare moment of pause. It asks a fundamental question: without darkness, who are we? As the city grapples with balancing safety, commerce, and sustainability, Tichy’s work underscores the importance of preserving the night’s subtle shadows. The exhibition serves as both a warning and a call to action, urging the metropolis to embrace darkness not as absence but as a vital presence.

By positioning his art at the intersection of science and urban experience, Jan Tichy provides a compelling framework for understanding the loss of natural night in a metropolis famed for its light. His exhibition is a timely exploration of what it means to live in a city where darkness is no longer guaranteed, prompting a deeper conversation about the rhythms that sustain life in New York and beyond.