Rocío Con Hong is a contemporary female artist born in Costa Rica in 1978 and belongs to the third generation of Chinese diaspora in this country. In 2000 she graduated as a Bachelor in fine arts with emphasis in painting at Universidad Autónoma de Centroamerica and in the same year she had her first exhibition. 

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In 2003 she was awarded by the Swedish Institute to study a two years Master degree of Visual Art at Lund’s University, Malmö Art Academy, in Sweden. Later on in 2017, she pursued a degree in psychology and nowadays she’s studying art therapy. These are subjects Con Hong integrate in her work within art where she explores topics such as gender, power structures, otherness and perception. Her latest works are primarily abstract paintings where she replaces the figurative representation of things with words, lines and color. She have shown her works in Sweden, Costa Rica, Mexico, United States, Spain, Nicaragua and Colombia among others.

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ARTIST STATEMENT

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I am a visual artist and psychologist based in Costa Rica. As part of the Asian diaspora in Latin America, my work frequently explores themes such as gender, power structures, otherness, and memory. My recent works are primarily abstract paintings, in which I replace figurative representation with words, lines, and color.

 

In recent years, I have immersed myself in the study of psychology and art therapy, which have significantly added both complexity and inspiration to my artistic practice. The integration of words into my paintings carries a profound psychological weight, exploring both personal and collective memories. These words delve into themes of intersectionality, where multiple identities—such as ethnicity, culture, and gender—intersect, creating nuanced and unique perspectives.

 

My use of words in abstract works of art transforms them into symbolic representations that evoke deep psychological responses in viewers. This approach creates a narrative layer that transcends traditional visual representation, allowing my art to communicate not only through imagery but also through the emotional and intellectual resonance of language itself.