Three works by Germany, British and Mexico artists won the best prizes at the Second Beijing International Art Biennale which opened here on Tuesday.

"The Wise Virgins" by Anselm Kiefer from German, "Bent of Mind" by Tony Cragg from the Great Britain and "Arriving to New York" by Arturo Rivera from Mexico got the jury's favors among more than 500 overseas artworks.

The three prize-winning artists, however, were all absent at the awarding ceremony held in the National Art Museum of China Wednesday because they are all aged, according to the exhibition sponsors. The works collectors received the prizes for them.

Michael Schultz is the collector of both the two German artists. "They are both very famous artists in Germany. I'm very happy to bring their works to China," he said, adding that he found more excellent artworks after coming to China.

"Kerze II" by Gerhard Richter from Germany, "Float and the Might I" by Chusin Setiadikara from Indonesia, "Woman" by Afshin Pirhashemi from Iran, "Closer" by Dario Urzay from Spain and "Unknown" by Anne-Karin Furunes from Norway got the second prizes.

"Heaven and Earth, Black and White tiles" by Xu Jiang, "Landscape Scroll" by Liu Liyun and "Human, Plant, Terracotta Warriors" by Ren Rong were awarded the prizes for the works of young Chinese artists.

The 30-day event, the largest of its kind in China, attracted more than 400 artists from 67 countries and regions, who bring more than 700 peaces of works, mainly paintings and sculptures.

(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2005)