The laureates for the Praemium Imperiale 2011 were announced Jul 11 by the Japan Art Association. One of the world’s most prestigious cultural distinctions, the prize is awarded in by the imperial family of Japan in honor of Prince Takamitsu and confers upon recipients a gold medal, a diploma and 15 million yen. Honored this year are artists Bill Viola and Anish Kapoor in the categories of painting and sculpture, respectively; architect Ricardo Legorreta; conductor Seiji Ozawa; and actress Judi Dench. The award ceremony will be held Oct 19, with a commemorative lecture by Ricardo Legorreta scheduled for Oct 20.
