The 2025 edition of the Praemium Imperiale was presented in London on 15th June by the Japan Art Association, hosted by Japanese Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Hiroshi Suzuki and Lord Chris Patten of Barnes (the UK’s former Governor of Hong Kong) in the presence of distinguished guests, among them, Dame Helen Mirren.
Often dubbed the “Nobel Prize of the arts,” they annually recognise lifetime achievement in five disciplines: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Music, and Theatre/Film. Each laureate receives 15 million Yen (approx. £77,000). In his opening remarks, Lord Patten emphasised the awards’ enduring mission – not only to honour artistic excellence, but to reinforce the quietly powerful connection between Japan and the UK through shared cultural values.
H.E. Hiroshi Suzuki echoed this view, calling the Praemium Imperiale “A beacon of global artistic aspiration.” He praised the laureates’ work for its profound capacity to transcend borders and to evoke a universal human resonance. It was a sentiment that elevated the awards beyond mere accolades, framing them as catalysts for cross-cultural dialogue.
Grant for Young Artists: The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain
In addition to the above awards, this year, The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain (NYT) was chosen by Lord Patten as the recipient of the 5 million Yen (c. £25,000) Grant for Young Artists.
Dame Helen Mirren, herself a patron of the NYT, spoke to I-M Inquisitive Minds at the event. “I attended the NYT for three years. It meant everything to me. I don’t think I’d have my career without the NYT. I didn’t go to drama school as my family couldn’t support me financially and in those times, it was impossible to get a scholarship.”
Left, Animal Farm, The National Youth Theatre, 2021. © Helen Murray. Right: performers from NYT deliver an extract of Handel & Hendrix, conducted by Naomi Hammerton, at the presentation of the Praemium Imperiale 2025 in London. © Jack Hall, PA Media Assignments.
Mirren had her break when she was asked to play Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra at the Old Vic in 1965. This was a time when one didn’t see many women in the theatre. Mirren commented, “When I started, there were very few girls and lots of young men, and frankly, they were mostly white.”
Under the leadership of the current director, Paul Roseby OBE, the NYT has aimed to promote gender equality, reflect the cultural diversity of Britain, and encourage international exchange. “There shouldn’t be barriers between countries when it comes to sharing excellence, inclusion and storytelling. Unfortunately, these days, politics get in the way of that. But we live in hope, as this brilliant group of young people deserve to be more on the global stage.”
About the change in the gender and cultural map, Mirren said, “Now I see a very different theatre, where female voices are very strong, very present; likewise, we are seeing a much better representation of the diversity in Britain. I think the NYT has worked hard to realise these changes, not just in casting, but also in the material that is being investigated.”
Mirren’s commitment is reflected in the bursary she created in 2013 to provide financial assistance to support young women from less privileged backgrounds who aspire to pursue careers in theatre, both on stage and behind the scenes.
The laureates of this year’s Praemium Imperiale are:
Painting: Peter Doig (United Kingdom)
Widely recognised as a leading figure in the “New Figurative Painting” movement, Peter Doig has spent over three decades redefining the expressive potential of painting. Drawing on personal memories and found imagery, his vivid landscapes and figures are marked by rich colour and distinctive brushwork. Blending the real and surreal, his poetic works suggest hidden narratives filled with mystery and dreamlike elements.
“My paintings feel very connected to my life, as I’ve lived it.”
– Peter Doig
Raised in Trinidad and Canada, these contrasting environments shaped his visual sensibility. “Those experiences have had a huge impact on my painting,” he notes. Often developed over years, his paintings reflect a deeply personal journey. Now based between London and Trinidad, Doig remains one of the world’s most celebrated living painters, with works in major collections worldwide.
Sculpture: Marina Abramović (Serbia)
Marina Abramović is a pioneering performance artist who uses her body and audience interaction to explore the limits of art. Gaining fame with Rhythm 0 (1974), where she let viewers act on her body, she has consistently pushed physical and emotional boundaries. Her 2010 MoMA piece The Artist Is Present drew record crowds.
“When I perform, I feel transformed, beautiful, radiant, and everything around me becomes luminous.”
– Marina Abramović
In 2012, she founded the Marina Abramović Institute to support long-duration performance. Based in New York, she continues to create powerful, boundary-challenging work worldwide.
Eduardo Souto de Moura (Portugal)
Eduardo Souto de Moura is a leading Portuguese architect and former protégé of Álvaro Siza. Since founding his practice in 1980, he has created context-driven architecture rooted in place, tradition, and culture. His notable works include the Pousada Mosteiro de Amares (1997), the Estádio Municipal de Braga (2003), and the Paula Rego Museum (2009).
“I believe in a triangle made up of the construction method, the material and the language.”
– Eduardo Souto de Moura
A Pritzker Prize laureate (2011) and Golden Lion winner (2018), he was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2024. Committed to teaching, he advocates for architecture that addresses urgent contemporary challenges with ecological and cultural intelligence.
Music: András Schiff (Hungary/United Kingdom)
András Schiff is one of today’s leading pianists, renowned for his interpretations from Bach to Bartók. He studied in Budapest and London, and in 1999 founded his chamber orchestra, Cappella Andrea Barca, to counter the solitude of a pianist’s life. Also active as a conductor, he believes it broadens artistic perspective.
“We cannot make music without silence. Unfortunately we live in a very noisy world.”
– András Schiff
Schiff frequently speaks during concerts, seeing music as a privilege, not just a profession. Knighted in 2014, he is also a writer and mentor, sharing insights through his book Music Comes from Silence. He is married to violinist Yūko Shiokawa.
Theatre/Film: Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker (Belgium)
Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker is a Belgian choreographer and founder of the dance company Rosas (1983). Known for exploring the relationship between music and movement, her work spans styles from minimalism to blues. Key works include Fase (1982), Rain (2001), and EXIT ABOVE (2023).
“I think dance is the most contemporary art form, because what is more contemporary than the body?”
– Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker
In 2025, she premiered BREL, a duet inspired by Jacques Brel. A committed educator, she founded P.A.R.T.S. in Brussels, and her choreography has also featured in major museums like the Louvre and MoMA.
Why the Praemium Imperiale matter
In today’s fractured world, where political and cultural tensions often rise, the Praemium Imperiale stands as a beacon. It reminds us that art remains one of the last truly global languages – capable of eroding walls, forging empathy, and inspiring change. The event at Japan House is a testament to the transformative power of art across generations and geographies.
Author: Julia Pasarón
Lead image: From the left, Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki, Lord Chris Patten of Barnes, Paul Roseby and Dame Helen Mirren. Photo © Jack Hall, PA Media Assignments.
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