TOKYO, JAPAN.- US artist Bruce Nauman (R) is congraturated by Tadashi Inumaru, Board of Trustees of the Japan Art Association (L) for his Praenium Award in Sculpture category after receiving testimonial letter and honorarium during the awarding ceremony of the 16th Praemium Imperiale in Tokyo, 21 October 2004.

The Japan Art Association proudly announces the recipients of the 16th PRAEMIUM IMPERIALE as follows: Painting: GEORG BASELITZ, Sculpture: BRUCE NAUMAN, Architecture: OSCAR NIEMEYER, Music: KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI, and Theatre/film: ABBAS KIAROSTAMI.

The artists are recognized and awarded for their achievements, for the impact they have had internationally on the arts, and for their role in enriching the global community. The five recipients each receive 15 million yen(c. $135,000), and a diploma and medal presented by honorary patron of the Japan Art Association Prince Hitachi in an awards ceremony in Tokyo. The awards ceremony was held on October 21st, 2004.

The Praemium Imperiale is an annual award given by the Japan Art Association for global achievement in the arts. Since its beginning in 1989, the award has become a mark of the highest international distinction. The 2004 laureates join a roster of 77 artists, including Ingmar Bergman, Leonard Bernstein, Peter Brook, Anthony Caro, Christo and Jean-Claude, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Norman Foster, Frank Gehry, Jean-Luc Godard, David Hockney, Willem de Kooning, Akira Kurosawa, Renzo Piano, Robert Rauschenberg, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Ravi Shankar.