Ho Tzu Nyen has been named the 2026 Grand Prize laureate of the Fukuoka Prize, becoming the first Singaporean artist to receive the JPY five million (USD 31,500) award. The prize, announced on May 22 by the Fukuoka Prize Committee, honors individuals who have made significant contributions to Asian studies and arts and culture. Ho, born in 1976 in Singapore, creates films, performances, and video installations that explore Southeast Asian history and the legacy of Japanese imperialism, often blending folklore with reality. He has represented Singapore at the 54th Venice Biennale and participated in major exhibitions including the Shanghai Biennale, Aichi Triennale, and Sharjah Biennial. He co-curated the Asian Art Biennial in Taiwan and is currently artistic director of the 16th Gwangju Biennale.
The award is significant because it recognizes Ho's pioneering use of immersive technologies in video art and his multifaceted perspectives on Asian identity and Japan's role in Asia. As the first Singaporean to win the Grand Prize, Ho's win highlights the growing international recognition of Southeast Asian contemporary art. The prize also underscores the Fukuoka Prize's role in elevating artists who challenge dominant historical narratives and explore alternative, fluid conceptions of Asian identity. Ho will deliver a public lecture on September 12 and attend the award ceremony on September 14.