Australian Archie Moore and the New Zealand artist group Mataaho Collective have received the top prizes at the opening of the Venice Biennale art exhibition.
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Further awards were given to Italian-Brazilian painter and sculptor Anna Maria Maiolino and the Turkish graphic artist and photographer Nil Yalter, who received a Golden Lion for their life's work.
Moore designed the Australian pavilion, called "kith and kin" and received the Golden Lion for the best national contribution.
Tracing Moore's own Aboriginal relations over 65,000 years, the work is written in chalk on the pavilion's dark walls and ceiling and took months to complete.
The prize for the best artist went to the Mataaho Collective, a group of four Maori women artists.
They are showing large-format fibre installations that deal with the intricacies of life and the knowledge systems of the Maori in the Arsenale venue.
This year's edition focuses on the experience of foreignness and the themes of migration and exile.
Under the title "Foreigners Everywhere," being and feeling foreign will play an important role, the organisers said.
The curator Adriano Pedrosa from Brazil has invited 330 artists from various countries with numerous works.
In addition, more than 80 countries are taking part in the Biennale with their own national contributions.
An international art audience is expected in the Giardini, the Arsenale and other venues in the historic northern Italian city for the 60th edition of the exhibition which runs until November 24.
Alongside the documenta in the German city of Kassel, the art biennial is considered the most important presentation of contemporary art and attracts artists and guests from around the world.
Israeli artist Yael Bartana and Berlin theatre director Ersan Mondtag are exhibiting in the German Pavilion in the Giardini.
In addition, four other artists are showing their work for Germany on the island of La Certosa.
with AP
Australian Associated Press
