"With very little education and
a series of horrible jobs I made a decision to attend the Ontario College of
Art. This was a turning point, as I was encouraged to take the small drawings
I had been struggling over and try working in a larger scale on paper. The drawing
style ... has become the driving force in my life... . One of my first chances
to exhibit my work is still one of the most important moments of my life. Real
Life Size, a rough rendering of a cruise missile ... was used to lead an anti-nuclear
rally. That evening on the CBC news my drawing was part of the lead story. The
discovery that I could make a difference is an inspiration that drives me to
this day... . Probably the one greatest opportunity that being an artist has
presented is to influence the next generation of artists. This has been truly
satisfying."
Click here to see examples of his work: Between
the Eyes; Real Life Size;
Mars Bunny; Trans-Am
Apocalypse No.2
John Scott has been at the forefront of Canadian contemporary
art for nearly two decades. He is generally considered among the most engaged
artists in social, political and cultural issues. Although he has produced many
well-known, large-scale installations or sculptures, he is also a prolific draughtsman.
Many will know his more prominent pieces, notably Trans
Am Apocalypse No. 2 (1993), a so-called muscle car whose painted black surface
is etched, by nail, with the entire text of The Book of Revelations. It is in
the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Canada. The Gallery also
holds Second Strike (1981), which depicts the threat of cruise missile testing.
A photo mural, 100 Workers (1988-97), contains the names, ages and causes of
death of 100 people killed in industrial accidents, one for each year between
1899 and 1999.
Scott's work has been much sought after by museums and
galleries across the country. He has had solo exhibitions at the Montreal Museum
of Fine Arts (Engines of Anxiety, 1997), the Art Gallery of Ontario (The Engine
of History, 1996), the Air Gallery, London, England (Exchange, 1984), and the
Art Gallery of Windsor (John Scott/Hometown Exhibition, 1998). He has participated
in group exhibitions at the Banff Centre for the Arts (Intolerance, 1996), the
Glenbow Museum (1984), Power Plant (Housing/A Right, 1990), the Chicago International
Art Exposition (Toronto Artists, 1992) and the Office of the Premier of Ontario
(1990).
John Scott was born in Windsor, Ontario in 1950. He studied
at the University of Toronto and the Ontario College of Art, where he now devotes
much of his time to teaching. He lives in Toronto.
Jury Statement
John Scott established himself early in his career as a leading figure in Canadian
visual arts. For over 20 years he has used his apocalyptic vision and the unique
visual idiom of his drawings, sculptures and installation work as a catalyst
for social and political change. His work speaks directly and forcefully about
the social, political and cultural condition of our times, in particular the
plight of the ordinary person. Through the format of painted drawings, John
Scott expresses both apprehension and hope for the human collectivity.
[JOCELYNE ALLOUCHERIE] [GHITTA CAISERMAN-ROTH] [JOHN CHALKE] [JACQUES GIRALDEAU]
[JOHN SCOTT] [MICHAEL SNOW] [DORIS SHADBOLT]