"Study: Osaka-Kansai International Art Festival" Science Art Award Selects Science Artists Who Will Create the Future | News

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"Study: Osaka-Kansai International Art Festival" Science Art Awards: Science Artists Who Will Create the Future Selected - Grand Prix and Rohto Prize Announced -

July 22, 2025

ROHTO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka City, President: Hidetoshi Segi) has selected five finalists from 64 entries in the "Study: Science Art Award" (hereinafter referred to as "this award"), organized by the Osaka Kansai International Art Festival Executive Committee, and announced the Grand Prix, EU Award, and Rohto Prize at the final judging on July 20th. This award aims to explore the possibilities of new artistic expression through the fusion of art and science, and to discover and support next-generation artists who utilize the latest technology. Our company will continue to leverage the power of science to contribute to solving social issues and creating new value for the future.

The Grand Prize winner of the "Study: Science & Art Award" has been decided.

Grand Prix and EU Prize Double Winner: Yu Tsunoda
Rohto Pharmaceutical Special Award Recipients: Koichi Mori + Takehisa Mashita

Comment from Yu Tsunoda, Grand Prix and EU Prize double winner:

My work visualizes the invisible phenomenon of "heat," and historically, until about 200 years ago, heat was considered a "matter" rather than "energy." Coming from a sculpting background and having worked with "things," I started creating this piece with the idea that heat could be treated like a matter.
I have previously created works that visualize invisible physical phenomena such as radiation and chaos through simulations, but all of them have centered on experiments and the creation of devices to "make invisible things visible," and the production is very painstaking work in a 4.5 tatami mat studio. However, the emotion and sense of reward I feel when a phenomenon suddenly "comes visible" is the driving force behind my work. I am colorblind, and the feeling that "although I couldn't share the world I see, I can do so through my work" has also been very meaningful to me.
I would like to continue creating works that visualize invisible physical phenomena, and I will use this award as encouragement to work even harder.

Left photo: Yu Tsunoda, Right photo: Judge Juichi Yamagiwa

Comments by Koichi Mori and Takehisa Mashita

Thank you very much. My colleague, Takehisa Mashita, and I have been creating works in this field for the past 20 years or so.
Lately, I've been working on the theme of "breathing." Breathing is something everyone does without thinking, but if you stop breathing for even a minute or two, it can be life-threatening—that's how important "breathing" is—and I'm creating artwork using it.
On the other hand, I believe this work could also be used in medical settings. In particular, I've recently been paying attention to the perspective that Parkinson's disease patients can use it to help with their own rehabilitation by controlling their breathing.

Left: Koichi Mori, Right: Kunio Yamada Chairman of Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Background and

Our company's purpose is to "energize people, society, and the world of tomorrow." We address social issues and engage in various activities with a long-term perspective to realize better well-being lives for people around the world. We believe that innovative science and technology contribute not only to the development of products and services, but also to the creation of new value and culture for the next generation. We are also looking forward to the synergistic effects of holding the Osaka-Kansai Expo and this art festival at the same time in 2025. We sympathize with the aim of creating a cultural and artistic event that will fill the streets of Osaka and Kansai with art and creativity, become established as an attractive feature of the city, and be inherited and developed as a growth strategy, and have decided to participate.

About "Study: Science & Art Award supported by ROHTO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd."

While there is no clear definition yet, science art is a general term encompassing media art that utilizes computers, programming, and AI, as well as bio-art that utilizes genetic engineering, tissue culture, and cloning.
By fusing science and art, we aim to create a creative new future, contribute to solving social problems and creating new value, and bring about a new impact on society through values and creativity that are "cutting-edge," "innovative," and "overturn conventional wisdom."
This award is being held as part of the art festival's program to support artists and researchers in their efforts to succeed on the world stage. It aims to foster the creativity of the next generation, is part of an initiative to make Osaka an art-filled city, and contributes to the future development of Osaka.

overview

The judging process will focus on artistic merit utilizing science and technology, the originality of the concept, and its feasibility, selecting five finalists. The finalists will be given the opportunity to exhibit their work at the "Finalist Exhibition," participate in the international art fair "Study × PLAS: Asia Arts Fair," and interact and collaborate with domestic and international artists, researchers, and visitors. For details and the latest information, please check this URL.
https://osaka-kansai.art/pages/science-art-award

What is the Osaka-Kansai International Art Festival 2025?

Study: Osaka-Kansai International Art Festival, to be held from April 11 to October 13, 2025, is an art festival that "studies the relationship between art, people, and society." With "social impact" as its theme, it aims to stimulate the economy and make social issues visible through culture and art. Looking ahead to the Osaka-Kansai Expo, the festival has been tested three times in Osaka since 2022 and will be held in conjunction with the Osaka-Kansai Expo in 2025. The venues will include the Osaka-Kansai Expo site (Yumeshima), the Osaka Culture Hall Tempozan designed by Tadao Ando, the Osaka Prefectural International Convention Center (Nakanoshima) designed by Kisho Kurokawa, and the Nishinari-Semba district, among other iconic locations in Osaka and Kansai. With 158 countries participating and an expected 28.2 million visitors, this opportunity will be used to disseminate Kansai-born culture and art to the world, and to create a new space for dialogue and discovery on a global scale through art projects in collaboration with institutions such as Germany, South Korea, and the EU (European Union).
URL: https://osaka-kansai.art