Sculpture Depicts Fictional ‘Disco Civil War’ in New York City

A new public art installation in Manhattan depicts a violent clash between disco dancers, a fabricated event the artist calls the “Disco Civil War,” prompting both confusion and amusement from onlookers.

The sculpture, titled “4 on the Floor,” was created by Staten Island-based artist Joe Reginella as part of his ongoing “NYC Urban Legends” series, which began in 2016. The work features four figures engaged in a brawl, styled in 1970s fashion – including platform boots, bell bottoms, and an ascot – and modeled after characters from popular culture like Welcome Back, Kotter and Saturday Night Fever. Reginella intentionally designed the composition to resemble the iconic photograph of the flag raising on Iwo Jima.

“When I design my sculptures, if they look absurd to me, I know I got something and I’ll build the story around it,” Reginella said. The artist noted the sculpture also serves as a commentary on current political rhetoric surrounding the idea of a “civil war,” highlighting the absurdity through the lens of 1970s disco culture. Reginella’s previous works have memorialized other fabricated New York City events, such as a giant squid attack on the Staten Island Ferry and a tugboat UFO abduction, contributing to a growing body of playful urban mythology. Untapped New York first reported on the installation.

The sculpture is currently on display on State Street, near The Battery, and is intended to provoke questions about the nature of truth and historical memory. The artist intends to remove the sculpture when the weather becomes too cold. Reginella will continue to observe public reaction to the piece, and plans to bring it out sporadically through the fall.