Born in China, Yan Kong grew up in Taiwan and Hong
Kong. At 18, she came to the United States to attend college. Although
her formal education centered on science, Kong decided to pursue art upon
obtaining Permanent Residency in 1978. She studied drawing and painting
at the Art Students League for three years. Kong began as a figurative
painter and studied art at museums. Gradually over the years, she has
found her voice using light and color in a unique way to create imagery
of landscapes and abstractions. Her recent work explores without pretense
an inner world of light and color through abstract forms, a journey to
a magical vision of lyrical interplay of color and shape.
"Making art is a process of owning oneself, accepting oneself, and respecting oneself. I had been educated in college to be a scientist, and for me to be an artist after years of science training and work had me labeled by family and "society" as 'not knowing my place' and 'an act of rebellion'. My passive, accommodating Asian trait had been the proper characteristic in Asian society, but here in America it was a great disadvantage when it came to asserting myself and having confidence in my abilities, in my art. It has been many years of regenerating efforts to be able to stand on my own feet, to think clearly for myself. As the Director of the Asian American women Artists Alliance, I look forward to meeting like-minded women, to share my experiences and to stand together and move forward into a brighter future." (exert from A Prismatic Mirror, 1999 exhibition, catalog, "Artists Speak Out".)
