The night before Japan elected Sanae Takaichi as its first female prime minister, Her Imperial Highness Princess Hitachi helped the Japan Art Association host its annual Praemium Imperiale ceremony in Tokyo.
The 36th annual event honored this year’s laureates — painter Peter Doig, sculptor Marina Abramović, architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, musician András Schiff and filmmaker Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. The gathering attracted former U.S. Secretary of State and former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, former Chancellor of the University of Oxford Lord Patten of Barnes, former Italian Prime Minister Lamberto Dini and former prime minister Fumio Kishida, each of whom shared some congratulatory remarks.
Established in 1988 by the Japan Art Association, the Praemium Imperiale is a global arts prize that honors exceptional achievements in painting, sculpture, architecture, music and theater/film. Laureates are recognized for transcending national and ethnic boundaries, and for embodying the culture and arts of our time.
Attendees first heard from Takamitsu Kumasaka, councilor of the Japan Art Association, who spoke of the power of art and artists to unite people across the world, according to post-event press materials. He said, “I hope to contribute to the further development of art and culture, and to the peace and prosperity of the world,” he said.
Kumasaka spoke on behalf of Hisashi Hieda, who was unable to attend the ceremony due to health reasons.
The Hungarian-born British classical pianist and conductor András Schiff shared some words of thanks on behalf of all the laureates. Marina Abramović also addressed guests, wearing a white necktie, white shirt and a long coat. Last summer she put her sculpting skills to use in a different way, by unveiling The Chantecler x Marina Abramović capsule collection that was inspired by Abramović’s art and the island of Capri’s primordial forces.
The 2025 laureates were also joined by a few of the previous laureates Lee Ufan (2001, painting), Hiroshi Sugimoto (2009, painting) and Fujiko Nakaya (2018, sculpture), as well as ambassadors and members of the international arts community.
AloJapan.com