Right after the Awards Ceremony, we spoke with the five winning teams about their reactions to receiving their awards, the ideas and messages behind their works inspired by this year's theme, "Dialogue," and the stories behind their creations.
Discover the creators' thoughts in their own words.

GRAND PRIZE “Touch Talk”

Signal Bleed (Brazil)

Q. How do you feel about receiving this award?

I am deeply honored and delighted to have been selected by the judges. Being recognized by such a distinguished panel is a tremendous privilege. Even being chosen as a finalist was already a victory for me, as more than 400 artists from around the world participated in this competition. To stand among the finalists was, in itself, an incredible achievement.

Q. Could you explain your work?

Our work explores the way we communicate in today's world. Although we have countless tools for communication—from screens to touch interfaces—we often fail to engage in genuine dialogue.

Instead of listening to one another, we too often find ourselves arguing or speaking past each other.

The central message of our work is the importance of listening. We believe that true dialogue can only begin when we genuinely hear one another. Before we can truly speak, we must first learn to listen.

This project was not created by me alone. It was made possible through the collaboration of Fesk and Sam. Sam was also my very first student, and without their creativity, dedication, and support, this work would not have been possible.

Q. How do you feel about this competition?

This competition is one of the most meaningful projection mapping events in the world.

Learning that we had been selected as finalists was an unforgettable moment. More than 400 artists from across the globe entered the competition, and being chosen as one of only 18 finalists was an extraordinary honor.

I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the entire organizing team. Everyone working behind the scenes showed remarkable kindness and dedication, making our participation both enjoyable and memorable.

Having previously worked behind the scenes at events myself, I understand the tremendous effort required to organize a festival of this scale. I would therefore like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the festival organizers, and every member of the staff who made this experience possible.

Participating in this competition has been an unforgettable experience, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity.

SECOND PRIZE  “Aporia”

VPM（Spain）

Q. How do you feel about receiving this award?

Receiving this award brings me immense joy, and my entire team shares the same feeling. The emotions we are experiencing at this moment are beyond words.

Q. Could you explain your work?

This project began as an experiment. While optical illusion techniques are often seen in various forms of visual media, they are rarely explored on such a large architectural façade. We wanted to discover whether this approach could truly work at this scale, and that curiosity became the starting point of the project.

Q. What was your experience like participating in this competition?

I believe this is one of the most important projection mapping competitions in the world. It has been a privilege to participate. The event itself, the venue, and the city of Tokyo all made this an unforgettable experience. I was also deeply impressed by the hospitality and dedication of the staff, whose efforts made the festival truly exceptional.

THIRD PRIZE   “The Beauty of Collision”

Bigcool（Thailand）

Q. How do you feel about receiving this award?

I never imagined that I would receive such an incredible award. It's truly an honor, and I'm so grateful.

Q. Could you explain your work?

The highlight of my work is bringing happiness and smiles to everyone here through this building. That's the message I wanted to share with the audience.

Q. What was your experience like participating in this competition?

I think the 1 Minute Projection Mapping Competition is one of the biggest projection mapping events in the world. I'm really proud to have received an award here, and it's an experience I'll never forget.

Tokyo Tokyo PRIZE  “1Pulse”

Anionavision（Romania）

Q. How do you feel about receiving this award?

I am truly honored to receive this award. The 1 Minute Projection Mapping Competition is one of the world's largest and most prestigious projection mapping competitions, and being recognized on this stage holds great significance for me.

Q. Can you explain the highlights of your work?

Under this year's theme of Dialogue, I created a work titled One Pulse. Through this piece, I sought to express the many ways in which thoughts and emotions can be communicated. Although we may differ in many ways, we all share one pulse and one breath. Together, we are capable of creating something far greater than ourselves, and that is the message at the heart of this work.

Q. What was your experience like participating in this competition?

As I mentioned earlier, I believe this is one of the world's premier projection mapping events. It brings together outstanding artists from across the globe, and it has been a great honor to meet and learn from them. Their creativity has been a tremendous source of inspiration, encouraging me to continue creating works like this in the future.

AUDIENCE PRIZE  “Infinite Dialogue”

Taro Narahara（Japan）

Q. How do you feel about receiving this award?

Receiving the AUDIENCE PRIZE is a tremendous honor, as it reflects the support and votes of so many people. This recognition is especially meaningful to me, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who voted for my work.

Q. Could you tell us, in one sentence, what the highlight of your work is?

The theme of my work is Conversation. As communication continues to evolve beyond differences in culture, gender, and background—and increasingly extends to interactions with AI—I believe that the concept of conversation itself is expanding. Through this work, I sought to express a hopeful vision of a future in which people remain connected despite the emergence of new forms of communication.

Q. What was your experience like participating in this competition?

Participating in this competition was an inspiring experience. Its international atmosphere provided valuable opportunities to connect with creators from around the world, leaving a lasting impression on me. I gained invaluable insights throughout the event and am sincerely grateful for the experience. I look forward to continuing my creative journey and hope to meet everyone again in the future.