Columbian artist Carlos Motta and Angolan artist Nástio Mosquito have been jointly awarded the “Main Prize” of the third Future Generation Art Prize. The prize is sponsored by the Ukrainian billionaire Victor Pinchuk.

The two artists will split the $100,00 cash prize, $40,000 of it is to be dedicated to the production of new works.

For the first time this year, an additional $20,000 has been awarded to support a residency program for three “Special Prize” winners: Aslan Gaisumov (Russia), Nikita Kadan (Ukraine), and Zhanna Kadyrova (Ukraine).

During the ceremony, held on December 6 at the Pinchuck Art Centre in Kiev, the prize’s founder Pinchuk launched into a passionate defence of contemporary art in the face of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

“I believe contemporary art is linked to freedom and openness,” he said. “With all you here, I see Kyiv again become a strong center of this positive change energy. Look 600 kilometers to the East and you will understand what I mean. In Donetsk in Eastern Ukraine, a contemporary art centre was recently turned into a prison. First, the artists were chased out. Now people are incarcerated in horrible conditions and tortured there.”

“Repressive regimes hate contemporary art,” Pinchuk continued. “They want to control where contemporary art liberates. And there is nothing more dissident, more different, than contemporary art and contemporary artists. We have invested into Ukrainian art scene, and into international young artists. To create a network connecting the best of those who create openness, freedom, change. I am proud of our investment. I hope it will prove useful for my country in difficult times.”