Swiss architect announced winner at Japan鈥檚 Praemium Imperiale Laureates
The Japan Art Association has announced this year鈥檚 Praemium Imperiale Laureates winners.
Swiss architect Peter Zumthor and veteran UK painter Richard Hamilton join the winners of the award, regarded by many as the Nobel Prize of the art world.
Zumthor鈥檚 work closely examines the location and purpose of a proposed building, using the most suitable materials for it. The architect insists on 鈥渃ustom-made architecture鈥.
The judges felt his buildings give a strong sense of spirituality and many like Kolumba, Art Museum of the Archbishopric Cologne, focus on the successful integration of old with new.
Created to mark the centenary of the Japan Art Association, and celebrating its 20th anniversary, the awards mark the excellence and international impact made by an artist in painting, sculpture, architecture, music and theatre/film.
Past winners in the architecture category have included a long list of star architects such as Frank Gehry, Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers, Jean Nouvel, Norman Foster, Rem Koolhaas, Oscar Niemeyer and Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron.
Hisashi Hieda, the acting chair at Japan Art, said: 鈥20 years ago, the Japan Art Association established the Praemium Imperiale to honour artists whose work has touched and inspired people across the globe.
This anniversary year represents a significant milestone for us.鈥
The awards ceremony will be held in Tokyo in October and will be presided over by the patron of the Japan Art, Prince Hitachi the younger brother of the current Emperor.
Full winner's list
Painting: Richard Hamilton
Sculpture: Ilya & Emilia Kabakov
Architecture: Peter Zumthor
Music: Zubin Mehta
Theatre/Film: Sakata Tojuro
Postscript
Richard Hamilton鈥檚 鈥淧rotest Pictures鈥 exhibition is showing till 12th October at Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.
For more information on the awards visit .
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