The ‘HERALBONY Art Prize 2024’ is an art award that celebrates the talent and expression of 58 artists with intellectual disabilities. Established in January of this year, the award received approximately 2,000 entries from 28 countries worldwide. From these submissions, Haruka Asano’s artwork ‘Hyoka’ was chosen as the grand prize winner. Asano, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 20 and has continued to create art amidst hospitalizations, drew inspiration for her winning piece from her parents, who are deeply important to her. The piece depicts the scene of coral spawning under a full moon, a theme that draws upon her mother’s pregnancy and her father’s work as a coral researcher. Asano meticulously rendered the starry sky, the universe, and the full moon on a cut-open rice bag, creating a breathtaking representation of the event.
The ‘HERALBONY Art Prize 2024 Exhibition’ showcases 62 extraordinary artworks, including the grand prize-winning piece. Throughout the exhibition period, visitors can participate in sign language-only tours and special events. Voice guidance by actor and clay sculptor Jin Katagiri is also available. The exhibition aims to shed light on each artist, expanding their opportunities and providing a platform for their talent. This is a valuable opportunity to encounter unseen expressions and talent.
‘HERALBONY Art Prize 2024 Exhibition’
Date: August 10th (Sat) – September 22nd (Sun)
Venue: Earth Garden, Mitsui Sumitomo Bank East Building 1F, 1-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Admission: Free
Website: https://hb.heralbony.jp/heralbonyartprize2024exhibition
Text: Aya Hasegawa
