Yael Bartana ~ Winner of the Gottesdiener Foundationa Israeli Art Prize 2006

Sunday, 15 April 2007 23:50

Israel - The video artist Yael Bartna is the winner of the Gottesdiener Foundation Israeli Art Prize 2006.  Bartna was born on 1970 and lives in Israel and in the Netherlands.  She studied at the School of Visual Arts, New York, Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem, and the Rijksakdemie in Amsterdam.  The winner was chosen by Mr. David Neuman, Director and Curator of "Magasin 3" in Stockholm, Sweden.  This year, the Prize format has changed and the winner was chosen out of a shortlist which included the artists Maya Gold (oil painting) and Noa Sadka (photography\documentation).

The Juror, David Neuman, wrote that Yael Bartana's contribution to the exhibition shows a coherent and high-level artistic expression.  "Low Relief II" is an extraordinary work with reference to the history of Israel, to photography and to the moving image.  "Wild Seeds" has the quality of a great art work, that tricks one into seeing something which creates insecurity and questions what is play and what is real.  The addition of the sound track is brilliant.  "A Declaration" is a performative video work with meaning about history and life.  All these make her contribution worthy of the Gottesdiener Israeli Art Prize, wrote Neuman, and all are combined in a very good exhibition of three promising artists.

The Gottesdiener Foundation Israeli art Prize has been awarded annually since 1995 to an Israeli artist under the age of 40 in the form of a solo exhibition accompanied by a catalogue and a monetary prize.  Over the years the prize has become the most prestigious prize in Israel given to young artists.  As of this year, the format of the Prize changes: the works of short-listed artists are featured in a joint exhibition, and the winner is chosen by another judge, who did not participate in the selection of the final candidates.  Past Winners of the Israeli Art Prize are: Miriam Cabessa, Yossi Breger, Yoav Shmueli, Ohad Meromi, Yehudit Sasportas, Adi Nes, Miri Segal, Ahlam Shibli, Nelly Agassi, Sigalit Landau and Sharon Ya'ari.  A new Internet website was launched this year for the Prize and for the shortlist exhibition: http://www.tamuseum.com/israeliartprize/eng.html