Today, on this occasion of the Fukuoka Prize 2024 Award Ceremony, I wish to sincerely congratulate Mr. Daito Manabe, laureate of the Grand Prize, Professor Sunil Amrith, laureate of the Academic Prize, and Kimsooja, laureate of the Arts and Culture Prize.

I am delighted to join you all in person at this Award Ceremony today, and to have the opportunity to gain more knowledge from the laureates about aspects of their activities and research.

The Fukuoka Prize is awarded to honor those who have made distinguished achievements in furthering the objectives of the Prize: to respect the diverse cultures that have been handed down over the generations in various parts of Asia; to contribute to their preservation and continuation; and to create new culture and promote academic research on Asia. Since its establishment, the Prize has been playing a remarkable role in acknowledging Asian cultures and demonstrating their value to the world.

I, myself, have visited several countries around Asia, and I have been intrigued by the richness and depth of Asian cultures, including their distinctive histories, languages, folklore, and arts, which have all been created and nurtured since antiquity by Asia’s diverse climates and natural environments.

I believe it is essential to continue to document, preserve, pass on, and also further develop this wealth and depth of cultural heritage. I also feel the importance of academic research that enables an in-depth understanding of Asia. I, therefore, believe that it is of great significance that this Prize communicates the value of Asian cultures, as well as their academic aspects.

I am sure that the outstanding achievements of today's three laureates and the significance of these works will become a valuable asset to humankind by being shared not only in Asia but with international society as a whole.

In closing my address, I would once again like to congratulate all the laureates, and I hope that the Fukuoka Prize will continue to enhance the understanding each part of Asia, as well as further promote peace and friendship throughout the international community.

Continuing to Share the Joy of Exploring Possibilities of Technology and Artistic Expression

I am truly honored to receive the Fukuoka Prize. I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all those who have greatly influenced my life and my work.

My creative work has always been a testament to the transformative power of technology in art. It explores the relationship between technology, the body, and humanity through music, mathematics, and programming. Technological advancements have not only revolutionized our lives but also greatly expanded our sensibilities and possibilities for expression. Through my work, I aim to inspire and show that technology is not just a tool but a catalyst that amplifies human creativity and creates new artistic expression. 

First, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my family and friends, especially my parents. My musical and mathematical experiences in childhood became the foundation of my creative activity today.

Secondly, I would like to thank the creative coding community. The community has allowed me to meet talented artists and technicians from all over the world, and they have inspired me. This has provided me with numerous international opportunities. I also extend my deepest gratitude to my colleagues and collaborators in Rhizomatiks, the art collective I supervise. 

This award is not the result of my efforts alone but of the support and encouragement from many people. It has fueled my commitment to continue to pursue the fusion of technology and art. I am dedicated to creating works that not only inspire and surprise but also pave the way for the next generation of creators. I hope to pass on the joy of exploring the possibilities of technology and art, ensuring a bright and innovative future for creativity.

Interview

What kind of groundbreaking artistic expression do you envision emerging in the future, propelled by the rapid advancement of technology?
Mr. MANABE: The art created by technology may have a short lifespan, but it also has the potential for continuous evolution. The fusion of AI and human creativity is a frontier that promises to birth works of art we have yet to even imagine.

What are the important things when working on a project as a team?
Mr. MANABE: The work border2021, showcased on stage, was a product of the collective efforts of professionals from diverse fields. As a director, I strive to create an environment where artists and engineers can fully utilize their expertise. Flexibility and teamwork are key in our projects, as they allow us to develop works of art that transcend individual contributions.

Please give a message to creators in the next generation.
Mr. MANABE: Remember, technology is a powerful tool for artists. AI will undoubtedly revolutionize the way we process and create data, but the true essence of art lies in human appreciation and enjoyment. Therefore, I urge the creators of the future to always prioritize their unique interests, insights, and sensitivities in their work.

Learning from Our Predecessors through Historical Research and Confronting Threat of Climate Crisis

I would like to express my warmest gratitude to the citizens of Fukuoka, to the Fukuoka Prize Committee, and to the Secretariat. I have admired your great city long before this happy chance to visit it for the first time. I am deeply honored—and humbled when I think of the magnificent artists and scholars who have won this prize before me, and who stand alongside me on the stage today. 

Knowledge does not ever advance through individual efforts alone. For twenty years, I have treasured my interactions with colleagues in Japan, a country with admirable traditions of scholarship in South and Southeast Asian studies. And throughout my career I have been profoundly fortunate to work with truly exceptional students, who are really my teachers. They are always my first audience—my most curious and most critical audience.

We face the collective threat of the climate crisis at a time of new global tensions, and at a time when technological change risks outstripping moral and legal regulation. At this critical moment, some people see the study of history as an indulgence that is irrelevant to the future. I believe that would be a profound mistake. The Fukuoka Prize was established to highlight the distinctive contribution that Asian cultures make to the archive of human expression and creativity—we need that wisdom now more than ever.

Interview

What made you to study the history of the area of South and Southeast Asia?
Prof. AMRITH: I think the South and Southeast Asia are very important to study in relation to some of our biggest global challenges; that is climate change or political division or inequality. And history for me is the way I found that I can understand the origins of the social and economic patterns and problems that we can find in the world today. And also there is a pleasure of discovery that comes with trying to understand the past societies.

Could you please tell us about your publication The Burning Earth, your first book in 6 years?
Prof. AMRITH: The Burning Earth is my efforts to write a global environmental history. In this work, I tried to show that the violence and inequality of the people and among our nations has also profoundly affected our relationship to the nature. The global history still is often written in the Western perspectives and in The Burning Earth I wanted to give a particular importance to Asian experiences and Asian ideas. So I hope that we will see The Burning Earth as it plea for peace-building and for the environmental justice.

What can each of us learn from history and prepare for the future to address environmental issues that are familiar and serious in our daily lives?
Prof. AMRITH: For hundreds of years Asian societies developed deep traditions of wisdoms and resilience and the ways of coping with environmental uncertainty. And in that wisdom we can see the signs of the courage for ourselves and as we can confront unprecedented environmental challenges. Japan is a country that experienced a lot of environmental harms that came with the rapid development but then recognized that harm and has started to take stats to repair. So as the air and water are much cleaner now. So I think Japan can lead the world as an example as we confront the environmental crisis.

Hoping My Efforts As an Artist Will Lead to Harmony in the World

Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Princess Akishino, Mayor of Fukuoka City, honorable Prize Committee members, ladies and gentlemen.
I am very pleased to be here in Fukuoka to meet you, and humbled to be honored as the laureate of Fukuoka Prize in Arts and Culture in 2024. 

Fukuoka was one of the first cities in the world that acknowledged my work since a young artist. Receiving such a valuable recognition at this stage means a lot to me. Thank you for your long lasting friendship, trust and support. 

I would like to take this opportunity to show my gratitude to the committee members who followed my work since long time, and supported for my laureate on this honorable occasion at Fukuoka Prize in Arts and Culture in 2024. I would also like to express my utmost respect to the city of Fukuoka that pays an important role in Asia and beyond, bringing awareness of identity of Asian art and culture. 

Lastly, I hope my endeavor as an artist can contribute to inspire and reflect upon human condition, and true value of life and art in this destructive and violent world we live in, and to bring harmony and peace together. Thank you so much.

Interview

Your diverse works have a consistent concept of sewing and wrapping. Could you please share your thought for why you chose this method?
Kimsooja: As an artist I was always questioning the surface of the canvas as a border also as a barrier, and also as a self and the other. And one day I was sawing the bed cover with my mother and I felt an exuberant shock while my cover was about to put the needle on to the silky fabric of the Korean bed cover cloth. As if the whole energy of the universe hit my body and reached to the point of the needle. And that was the moment that I found the needle was in away the axis of the structure of the fabric that is consist of the vertical and horizontal structure that is also a structure of the canvas. I played the daily life object such as bottari to convey in away and re-contextualize women’s domestic life into a contemporary art context. So from then, I was also able to extend my vision and practice to spatial and architectural projects. So that it has been evolving from that moment until up to now.

What do you hope to convey to the citizens of Fukuoka through art?
Kimsooja: Fukuoka City became the first city that acknowledged my work and trying to keep as a prominent piece, and that was very unique and special for me. And I really appreciate for their insight and vision for the future of my career as an artist. At that time Japan was a country that has been also with more advanced in arts and culture and more open for the female artists I think. So I would like to show my gratitude to the citizen of Fukuoka and city that make a continuous effort to Asian art and culture in our global society that is in away divided by violence and destruction.