Catherine Lampert (UK):
I had to consider my decision carefully, reviewing each candidate’s body of work. Making the decision was not easy, especially because many of the candidates create particularly strong work, and in their studios, one embarks on adventurous, deeply personal explorations. The sculptors were also very interesting. I choose to award the Ars Fennica prize to Johan Scott. The visual challenges he has addressed in recent years and the works that have grown from them demonstrate that his contribution to contemporary painting is truly original. He also has a unique sense of form and medium, whose sensitivity I have not seen matched anywhere. Perhaps it originates from the Finnish archipelago landscape. The prize brings attention to his work, which deserves to be recognized beyond the Nordic countries.
Catherine Lampert (UK), Director for Whitechapel Art Gallery in London (1992)