Peter Zumthor wins art world’s Nobel Prize

The Japan Art Association has announced this year’s 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.

Peter Zumthor's Bruder Klaus Field Chapel in Wachendorf, Germany 2007

Zumthor’s work closely examines the location and purpose of a proposed building, using the most suitable materials for it. The architect insists on “custom-made architecture”.

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.

Zumthor's Kolumba, Art Museum of the Archbishopric in Cologne

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: “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.”

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.