Francisca Cheng
Pintora – Hong Kong / Costa Rica
The painter Francisca Cheng was born in Hong Kong SAR, China. She was established in Costa Rica in 1991 bringing with her nuances of beautiful colors that were mixed with the contemporaneity of Western art to be captured on the canvas using various carefully graced techniques. Her works are full of messages of positivism, textures, colors and movements that lead us to reflect on life.
Francisca Cheng handles different techniques of painting, began her professional career in the year 2000, where she began to experiment and develop the basic techniques of watercolor and oil painting, as well as drawing with different media and supports. She is known for her work in pastel chalk Hyperrealism that began in 2003, reached its climax in 2006 and continues to be projected to the present. In that same year she wanted to make a change in her work, so she started a search for her own style, which resulted in what is known as Expressive Realism using a mixed technique in her painting. Cheng combines different media with her already developed knowledge in the technique of Hyperrealism and her desire to project beyond a simple figure. She begins to give life to her paintings, marking not only her unparalleled palette of bright colors, but also her lines of free expression making harmony with the unfinished pencil and charcoal.
For her talent and creativity Francisca Cheng has received honorable mentions at a national and international level. The level of quality achieved with her works has been constantly evolving, making it worthy of several recognitions, among which include: International Biennial of Art in the Museum for National Identity (El Salvador), Honorable Mention of the Roca Museum (Argentina) , winner in the category of Artistic Nude as well as in Black and White Art (A Singular Creation, USA) and third place of annual competition of the ASC 3rd Annual Art and Photography Competition (USA).
The growth of her person led her to develop and evolve the thematic focus in her paintings. From the year 2009 she begins to work her pieces revolving around her concern for the problems that the planet is going through, its environment and all the living beings that inhabit it, carrying messages that try to awaken in the viewer an awareness symbiotic towards nature, making a call for love and hope with great optimism, trying to sensitize people from the perspective of cohabitants of the Earth so that they adopt a harmonious way of life together with all those around them. For this reason the works of Francis have been well received by various groups for animal , environmental and cultural protection in Costa Rica such as APEV and “Manifestar”, which have invited her to participate in their projects and conferences. In 2010, her series of paintings entitled “Animal Vision” was created, which was widely accepted by the public at the National Gallery of Costa Rica. Due to the importance of its subject, it was supported by the participation of live musicians, monologues and poetry of other great artists.
The following year, Cheng began an introspection about her philosophy of life: the meaning of perfection. She broke with all her knowledge in painting techniques and academic standards to make way for her next series: “The dream of the butterfly.” The concept for this work is based on the philosophy of the master Chuang Tzu (莊子) that deals with the duality and connections between all beings, Francis concluded that “It is not about perfect brushstrokes, but to reach honesty and perfection of expressing in each stroke the feelings of an instant “. This was another series that moved all its viewers and evoked in them the feelings represented in each work of the series. This collection was not only in different museums, but was acquired by gallerists and national and international collectors. In 2013, an exhibition and cultural activity entitled “Pangea” was held in one of the most important galleries in Costa Rica, the Sofia Wanamaker Gallery . This activity was held within the framework of the International Women’s Day to celebrate all the women artists that exist throughout the world. Francisca was chosen as the representative of Hong Kong and Costa Rica to exhibit her series together with other outstanding painters of different nationalities.
In 2016 Cheng celebrates once again the International Women’s Day with a new collection of paintings, this time representing some of the most outstanding ethnic groups, shown on faces of different ages. In it the painter also wants to present a brush of the many physical characteristics of women, what they contain internally and emotionally. She uses the strength of the eyes to awaken in each viewer feelings that not only bring painted faces but women who are represented on the canvas.
For 2017 Francis again amazes us with her work. This time she did it by representing Costa Rican culture and folklore in a series entitled “Costa Rica”, which was specially prepared to inaugurate the new Costa Rican National Police Academy.
Currently the artist is focused on the creation of the second part of the series “The dream of the butterfly.”
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La pintora Francisca Cheng nació en Hong Kong SAR, China. Se estableció en Costa Rica en 1991 trayendo consigo matices de bellos colores que se mezclaron con la contemporaneidad del arte Occidental para ser plasmadas sobre el lienzo utilizando diversas técnicas cuidadosamente agraciadas entre sí. Sus obras están llenas de mensajes de positivismo, texturas, colores y movimientos que nos llevan a reflexionar sobre la vida.
Francisca Cheng maneja diferentes técnicas de la pintura, inició su carrera profesional en el año 2000, donde comenzó a experimentar y desarrollar las técnicas básicas de la acuarela y el óleo, así como el dibujo con distintos medios y soportes. Ella se destaca por su trabajo de Hiperrealismo en tiza pastel que dio comienzo en el 2003, llegó a su clímax en el 2006 y sigue proyectándose hasta la actualidad. En ese mismo año quiso hacer un cambio en su obra, por esto dio inicio a una búsqueda por un estilo propio, ésta dio como resultado lo que se conoce como Realismo Expresivo utilizando una técnica mixta en su pintura. Cheng combina distintos medios con su ya desarrollado conocimiento en la técnica del Hiperrealismo y sus deseos de proyectar más allá de una simple figura. Comienza a darle vida a sus cuadros marcando no sólo con su inigualable paleta de colores vivos, sino también con sus trazos de expresión libre haciendo armonía con lo inconcluso del lápiz y el carboncillo.
Por su talento y creatividad Francisca Cheng ha recibido menciones de honor a nivel nacional e internacional. El nivel de calidad alcanzado con sus obras ha ido evolucionando constantemente, haciéndola merecedora de varios reconocimientos, entre los cuales cabe destacar: Bienal Internacional de Arte en el Museo para la Identidad Nacional (El Salvador), Mención de Honor del Museo Roca (Argentina), ganadora en la categoría de Desnudo Artístico así como en Arte Blanco y Negro (A Singular Creation, EEUU) y tercer lugar de competencia anual del ASC 3rd Annual Art and Photography Competition (EEUU).
El crecimiento de su persona la llevó a desarrollar y evolucionar el enfoque temático en sus pinturas. A partir del año 2009 comienza a trabajar sus obras girando en torno a su preocupación por la problemática por la que está atravesando el planeta, su ambiente y todos los seres vivientes que habitan en él, portando mensajes que tratan de despertar en el espectador una conciencia simbiótica para con la naturaleza, haciendo un llamado de amor y esperanza con gran optimismo, tratando de sensibilizar a las personas desde la perspectiva de cohabitantes de la Tierra para que adopten una forma de vida armoniosa junto a todos aquellos que les rodean. Por ello las obras de Francis han sido bien acogidas por diversos grupos para la protección animal, ecologistas y culturales en Costa Rica tales como APEV y “Manifestar”, los cuales le han invitado a participar en sus proyectos y charlas. En el 2010 surge su serie de pinturas tituladas “Visión Animal”, la cual tuvo gran aceptación por el público en la Galería Nacional de Costa Rica. Debido a la importancia de su tema, fue apoyada con la participación de músicos en vivo, monólogos y poesía de otros grandes artistas.
Al año siguiente, Cheng inició una introspección sobre su filosofía de vida: el significado de la perfección. Rompió con todos sus conocimientos en técnicas de la pintura y los estándares académicos para dar paso a su siguiente serie: “El sueño de la mariposa”. El concepto para esta obra se basa en la filosofía del maestro Chuang Tzu (莊子) que trata sobre la dualidad y las conexiones entre todos los seres, Francis llegó a la conclusión de que “No se trata de pinceladas perfectas, sino llegar a la honestidad y perfección de plasmar en cada trazo los sentimientos de un instante”. Esta fue otra serie que conmovió a todos sus espectadores y evocó en ellos los sentimientos representados en cada obra de la serie. Esta colección no solamente estuvo en diferentes museos, sino que fueron adquiridos por galeristas y coleccionistas nacionales e internacionales.
Actualmente la artista se encuentra enfocada en la creación de la segunda parte de la serie “El sueño de la mariposa”.
EXHIBITIONS / SHOWS
2017
Collective Art Show – Citi Gallery, Heredia, Costa Rica
“Art, Culture and Public Safety” – National School of Police Costa Rica, Limón, Costa Rica
“5 years – 50 artists” – Talenum Gallery, San José, Costa Rica
2016
V Women’s Art Show, “La Vie en Rose” – Banca Kristal, City Mall, Alajuela, Costa Rica
1st international meeting of sculpture and watercolor in miniature – Jade Museum, San José, Costa Rica
“International Women’s Day” Kristal Collective – Siegfried Schosinsky Gallery (BCR Central Offices) San José, Costa Rica
2015
“Agreement in Disagreement” II International B & W Meeting – National Gallery – Children’s Museum, San José, Costa Rica
“United Art for Children” – National Gallery – Children’s Museum, San José, Costa Rica
“I Women’s Art Show” – Vino Mundo Restaurant and Cava, San José, Costa Rica
FIA “International Festival of the Arts” – Desamparados Museum, San José, Costa Rica
1st Edition: Large Format Sculpture – Urbana Fashion Street Art, San José, Costa Rica
2014
Chinese Art Show “International Festival of Chinese Culture” – National Stadium, San José, Costa Rica
Project “EN-TENDIDOS” – Museum of Costa Rican Art (MAC), San José, Costa Rica
“Metanoia” – Wagon of Light, School of Art, San José, Costa Rica
“Animal Vision” – Neshuma, San José, Costa Rica
2013
Tribute to Rafa Fernández “Gatos” – Valanti Gallery, Costa Rica Country Club, San José, Costa Rica
“1st Art Fair” – Plaza San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica
“II Cultural Artistic Meeting 2013” – UNARVI, Hotel 1492, San José, Costa Rica
“Placerotico” Edible Art Show – Foundation Center for Brazilian Studies,
San José, Costa Rica
“Mujer Brasil” – Foundation Center for Brazilian Studies, San José, Costa Rica
“PLASTIC WINDOW-COLLECTIVE ENCUENTRO” – Historical Museum Juan Santamaría, Alajuela, Costa Rica
“1st Women Artists Art Fair” – Lincoln Square, Costa Rica
PANGEA “WOMEN OF THE WORLD LINKED BY ART” – Sophia Wanamaker Gallery, Costarican-North American Cultural Center, San José, Costa Rica
Collective Art Show – La Casa del Cuño, Antigua Customs, San José, Costa Rica
2012
IDEARTE – International Art Biennial – Museum for National Identity, Honduras
“Francisca Cheng Art Show – 2012” – Club Unión, San José, Costa Rica
“The Dream of the Butterfly” – Juan Santamaría Historical Museum, Alajuela, Costa Rica
“Meridiano and the Art of the Hand for the children of Costa Rica” – Torre Meridano, Business Center, Escazú, Costa Rica
“I Women’s Art Sow” – Multiplaza Escazú, San José, Costa Rica
“FIA” – International Festival of the Arts, San José, Costa Rica
2nd Public Auction of Art, Culture and Love – Hotel Estudio, Santa Ana, Costa Rica
“VIII Festival of the Arts” TerraMall, San José, Costa Rica
2011
Probes to the women of Cinchona, Public Auction – Municipality of Costa Rica
“VII Festival of the Arts” TerraMall, San José, Costa Rica
“2011 Art Work Shop” – Costa Rican art gallery, San José, Costa Rica
2010
“An Animal Vision” – National Gallery – Children’s Museum, San José, Costa Rica
“FIA” – International Festival of the Arts, San José, Costa Rica
“VI Festival of the Arts” TerraMall, San José, Costa Rica
“China Culture Festival Exhibition” – Sophia Wanamaker Gallery, Costarrican-North American Cultural Center, Costa Rica
2009
“Drawings and Portraits” – House of Culture Alfredo González Flores, Heredia, Costa Rica
Honorable Mention – Museo Roca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
“V Festival of the Arts” TerraMall, San José, Costa Rica
3rd Place Winner – ASC 3rd Annual Art and Photography Competition
“Sketchbook Project III” Exhibition Tour: Art House Gallery, Atlanta, GA. Museum of Contempory Art DC, Washington, DC. Chris’ Jazz Cafe, Philadelphia, PA. Laconia Gallery, Boston, MA. Antena Gallery Chicago, IL. Soulard Art Market, St. Louis, MO. 3rd Ward Gallery, Brooklyn, NY. Museum of Design Atlanta (FASHION), Atlanta, GA. Chicago Art Source Gallery, Chicago, IL.
“Women and Expressions” – House of Culture Alfredo González Flores, Costa Rica
Artistic Nude Art Showdown Winner – A Singular Creation
2008
B / W Art Showdown Winner – A Singular Creation
2007
Special guest of the Galería Mirarte Inauguration, San José, Costa Rica
“VI Outdoor Art Festival” – Ulises Gallery and Municipality of Escazú, Costa Rica
“Expo Arte 2007” – ExpoCenter Real Cariari, San José, Costa Rica
1999
“Collective Exhibition” – Galería MonaLisa, San José, Costa Rica
1998
“Collective Exhibition” – Festival de La Creatividad, San José, Costa Rica
Francisca Cheng 