Ishu Han Wins 5 Million Yen Nissan Art Award

Ishu Han was announced winner of the 5 million Yen (US $47,000) Nissan Art Award in a ceremony live-streamed from Yokohama tonight. Now in its fourth edition, the prize is awarded to an emerging artist in Japan.

Born in Shanghai in 1987, Han moved to Japan as a boy. He received an MFA in inter-media art from the Tokyo University of Arts in 2012.

‘I want to continue making art in the same way that I continue to breathe,’ Han said upon being nominated for the prize. ‘And in being seen by many others, I hope that my work will also begin breathing of its own accord.’

Han beat out fellow finalists Sachiko Kazama, Soichiro Mihara, Nobuko Tsuchiya, and Ei Wada, each of whom received 1 million Yen in prize money and an additional 1 million Yen to make the works featured in the prize exhibition. Han also won a trophy and an overseas residency.

The Nissan Art Award exhibition continues until 22 September at the Nissan Pavilion, a 10,000 square metre experience centre in Yokohama. It can also be viewed via this video Nissan posted on YouTube.

The award aims to celebrate new developments in Japanese contemporary art, provoke debate, and help emerging artists to develop their careers internationally. It was established by the Nissan Motor Corporation in 2013 as part of its 80th anniversary celebrations.

Nissan uses the term ‘Grand Prix’ for the award’s grand prize, a nod to Nissan’s involvement in motor sports.

Nissan Motor Corporation collects the works exhibited in its prize exhibitions. The previous winners are Hikaru Fujii (2017), Yuko Mohri (2015) and Aiko Miyanaga (2013). —[O]

Main image: Ishu Han, Where Are You Now (2020). Installation, space blankets, video equipment. Courtesy the artist and Nissan Art Award.