As the US midterm elections loom closer, former First Lady Hillary Clinton is turning to art for peace of mind. She is in Japan for the 37th Praemium Imperiale awards ceremony taking place on Wednesday at Meiji Kinenkan in Tokyo.
Clinton serves as US advisor to the prestigious global arts prize and on Monday posted photos on Instagram from a visit to Naoshima, one of Japan’s most well-known art islands. She posed with two of Yayoi Kusama’s pumpkin sculptures and observed that “in a sometimes dark and chaotic world, art is an antidote to numbness and incuriosity that reminds us the work of creation is an act of resistance.”
The former first lady joined the Praemium Imperiale in 2022 as international advisor and chair of the US nomination committee. She took over from Caroline Kennedy, former US ambassador to Japan, who served as international advisor from 2018 and stepped down in 2021, prior to her nomination as US ambassador to Australia. Clinton is the fifth US international advisor and in her role recommends candidates for the prize.
This year’s Praemium Imperiale laureates were announced on September 8, recognizing artists for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the arts. The list included American artist Jenny Holzer, British sculptor Andy Goldsworthy, American architect Daniel Libeskind, Swedish musician Herbert Blomstedt, and Australian actor Cate Blanchett. Each laureate will receive 15 million yen ($95,160), a testimonial letter, and a medal, which will be presented by Prince Hitachi, honorary patron of the Japan Art Association.