The 35th Praemium Imperiale Laureates (from left) Shigeru Ban (Architecture), Sophie Calle (Painting), Maria João Pires (Music), Doris Salcedo (Sculpture), and Ang Lee (Theater and Film) pose for a photo session on the afternoon of April 18 at Toranomon, Tokyo (©Sankei by Yuta Yasumoto)
More commonly known as the Nobel Prize for the Arts, the Japan Art Association held the 35th Praemium Imperiale in Honor of Prince Takamatsu on November 19. The committee celebrated five artists from different parts of the world as its 2024 laureates. A luxurious ceremony was held at the Okura Tokyo Hotel on the same date.
They five laureates are:
- Painting: Sophie Calle (France)
- Sculpture: Doris Salcedo (Colombia)
- Architecture: Shigeru Ban (Japan)
- Music: Maria João Pires (Portugal/Switzerland)
- Theater/Film: Ang Lee (Republic of China, Taiwan)
In view of the ceremony, the Japan Art Association held a press conference in Tokyo on November 18. It was an occasion to celebrate the power of culture and Japan's role in recognizing the arts. As Chairman of the Japan Art Association, Hisaishi Hieda, commented: "Their work transcends the barriers of language and culture."
International Advisors were also at hand to share their thoughts on the significance of the recipients. Former United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was among those present. Clinton showed her appreciation for the awardees, noting that their work "creates the opportunity for all of us to feel more deeply and think more profoundly what it means to be a human being in a time of such tumultuous and momentous change."
Thoughts from the Artists
The artists at the press conference expressed their gratitude at receiving the award. They join the ranks of Ingmar Bergman, Leonard Bernstein, Akira Kurosawa, Renzo Piano, Ai Weiwei, and Wim Wenders, among others.
As winner in the Architecture category, Shigeru Ban, commented: "The fact that people I admire such as Seiji Osawa and Issey Miyake are fellow laureates: there is no greater honor than this."
Sophie Calle received the award in Photography. She recalled her time briefly living in Japan, over 40 years ago. "I perceive that Japan is a complex country, at times difficult to grasp, but that it seems to understand me."
Doris Salcedo, who was awarded the prize in Sculpture, has dedicated her art to giving a voice to victims of political violence, for example from Colombia's civil war. In her remarks, therefore, she thanked the many victims who shared their stories. "Their testimonies give meaning, significance and purpose to my work."
Music category laureate, Maria João Pires, showed her appreciation for the Japanese public's enjoyment of music. She said the Japanese "go beyond the surface, not as a spectator but as a witness of a performance."
Ang Lee Highlights 'Influence of Japanese Cinema'
Ang Lee, winner in the Theater/Film category held a separate press conference talking to reporters.
Though his name might be new to some, he directed several of the most famous films of our time, including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Brokeback Mountain (2005), and The Life of Pi (2012). Lee won Academy Awards for these three films, the first for Best Foreign Film and the other two for Best Director, respectively.
During the press conference, he spent more time explaining his inspiration and his connections to Japan. For example, he recounted "growing up in a Japanese-style house", and being inspired by samurai films, and Japanese film directors such as Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujiro Ozu, just to name a few.
"Japanese films are very good at adapting to the Western world, but they are very Eastern in their expression, something that influenced Asian film makers including myself."
To expand on this point, he explained that in Chinese, there is an expression which means "sadness is the closest thing to kindness."
"It's this idea that there is sadness in life. We embrace that, nourish that, and derive kindness from that. I think that is a very Eastern concept, that the Japanese [filmmakers] express it really well."
Bringing Asian Voices to Cinema
Lee also reflected how the importance of Asian voices in the sector was key in a time when cinema is facing a difficult period.
Fewer people are going to cinemas compared to earlier periods of time. He said that although the "United States has established a standard and unity in the language of filmmaking," it was time to break the mold, and fulfill the original role of cinema of breaking the status quo.
"We need to cherish our cultural heritage and speak up in cinema."
RELATED:
Author: Arielle Busetto
