By Nii B. Andrews
The renowned Ghanaian artist, El Anatsui, has been named as a laureate for the 2017 Praemium Imperiale, a prestigious art prize awarded annually by the Japan Art Association.
He is the first Ghanaian recipient of the Præmium Imperiale.
The Præmium Imperiale was created in 1988 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Japan Art Association and to honor the late Prince Takamatsu, who was the association’s honorary patron for almost six decades.
It is the world’s most prestigious international prize in the fields of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and theatre/film.
The prize recognizes lifetime achievement.
Now in its 29th year, it brings international recognition to the arts in much the same way as the Nobel Prize does to the sciences.
The Japan Art Association on Tuesday, September 12, formally announced the 5 recipients of the 29th Præmium Imperiale International Arts Awards at the Juilliard School in New York City.
The awardees announced are:
*Dancer and choreographer Mikhail Baryshnikov
*Afro-Pop superstar Youssou N’Dour
*Architect Rafael Moneo
*Visual artist Shirin Neshat
*Visual artist El Anatsui
Each awardee will receive 15 million yen (approximately $134,000).
On October 18, a special ceremony will be held for the laureates in Tokyo, where they will each receive a specially-designed gold medal and a testimonial letter from His Imperial Highness Prince Hitachi, honorary patron of the Japan Art Association.
The 2017 winners of the Præmium Imperiale join a list of 144 of the greatest artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
They include Leonard Bernstein, Peter Brook, Anthony Caro, Norman Foster and Frank Gehry.
ARTcapital Ghana salutes the “LION OF ANYAKO” – Prof. El Anatsui on this groundbreaking achievement.
We offer our congratulations to all the other winners.