2025 henki art prize

The 2025 Henki Art Prize invites artists worldwide to respond to the theme Camminare – Avanti, camminate sempre, inspired by Pope Francis’ words on the importance of movement and resilience.

In his words to young people:

“Quando un giovane si ferma, è come l’acqua: quando l’acqua cammina va bene, ma quando l’acqua si ferma, finisce male.”

(“When a young person stops, it’s like water: when water flows, it’s good, but when water stops, it goes bad.”)

This simple, profound metaphor speaks to life itself. Movement sustains us – physically, emotionally, spiritually. To walk is to resist stagnation. To evolve. To endure.

This year’s theme invites artists to explore walking not just as a physical act, but as a symbol of resilience, transformation, and forward momentum. How do we move through personal or collective adversity? What pathways do we carve, or inherit, in the pursuit of meaning? How does water, ever-shifting and life-giving, reflect the nature of our journey?