Belgian artist Joris Van de Moortel has won the grand prize from the 12th edition of the Cairo Biennale, which opened on 11 June.

Van De Moortel is an established artist with several noteworthy solo exhibitions in his career, in particular Cachivage Bugui at BOZAR (Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels, Belgium) in 2018, and Pink Noises at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta in 2016 (United States).

His works are included in important collections such as the Vehbi Koç Foundation (Istanbul, Turkey); the Dena Foundation for Contemporary Art (Paris, France/New York, USA); the collection of the Central Museum (Utrecht, Netherlands); and the Ghisla Art Collection (Locarno, Switzerland).

The Biennale granted five other awards, one of which went to Egyptian artist Ahmed El-Badry for his sculptural work.

Iraqi artist Sadik Kwaish Al-Fraji, South Korean artist Kim Heecheon, Austrian artist Brigitte Kowanz, and Jordanian artist Ayman Yosri are the other recipients of the Biennale awards.

The awards were selected by the renowned international jury, chaired by Austrian artist Felicitas Thun-Hohenstein and comprised of Catherine David and Annabelle Ténèze from France, Amelia Jones from the US, and Teresa Grandas from Spain.

The Biennale also welcomed its guest of honour, French artist Gerard Garouste.

A painter and sculptor, Garouste's work is informed by myths, questions of origins, and time. They teem with animals, some of them fantastical, and a cast of different characters, as he pulls inspiration from the Bible to popular culture and literary works.

Under the theme 'Eyes East Bound,' the Cairo International Biennale returns for its 13th edition after an eight-year hiatus.

The event will showcase 80 artists from 50 different countries, including seven from Egypt.

The works are displayed until 10 August at three Cairo venues: the Aisha Fahmy Arts complex, the Palace of Arts, and the Egyptian Modern Art Museum.

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