Yael Erlichman's work
Photo: Yael Erlichman
Israeli sculptor Yael Erlichman has won the President Award at the 2009 Florence Biennale international contemporary art exhibition named after Lorenzo il Magnifico.
Some 800 artists from 76 countries took part in the biennale, where more than 2,500 works of art were displayed as part of the general exhibition held at the Fortezza da Basso fortress built during the Renaissance period.
Erlichman was invited to display her work at the biennale after taking part in a number of important exhibitions across the world, including in Canada, Holland and the United States. In Florence she presented a selection of five bronze sculptures.
"It was a big surprise, because it was a very important panel of judges," she said about the award. "Overall, it was a great pleasure."
Three addition Israeli artists took part in the exhibition: Yael Kaplan (who was ranked fifth in the photography category), Patricia Abramovich and Akiva Huber.
The artists were selected by an international panel of judges. One of the most important goals of the Florence Biennale, which has been held since 2001, is to promote "a dialogue between civilizations."