Chin We is a British Nigerian Multidisciplinary artist. Her work explores themes of identity, culture, representation, heritage and the African diaspora through the medium of photography, film and mixed media.
Her debut feature film, Nwanyịbụife, was recognized at the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards, being considered for nominations in six categories. Notably, the film was also shortlisted by BAFTA for the UK submission for the International Feature Award at the 2024 Academy Awards, highlighting its significance as a British film in a foreign language.
Chin We is a fellow at the Royal Society of Arts. Her work has been published on CNN and several other publications. She was featured on CNN as one of the leading African heroine women photographers, nominated for RPS 100 heroines by the Royal Photographic Society England and won an honourable mention award in the People-Portrait Category in International Photography Awards(IPA) 2018
Her varied passions includes travel, music and dance. She is also an Art Educator for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
AWARDS
- 2022 Arts Council England Award
- 2022 BEFFTA Award for Best Creative Personality
- 2021 Picfair Mind The Lens Award
- 2021 Arts Council England Award
- 2020 Arts Council England Award
- 2019 Arts Council England Award
- 2018 Fellow at Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)
- 2018 RPS Nominee for RPS 100 heroines by The Royal Photographic Society England
- 2018 An Honourable mention award in the People-Portrait Category in International Photography Awards(IPA) New York. IPA is one of the world’s most prestigious photography award.
EXHIBITIONS
- Come and See Fotographic Ife Nkili 1, Micklegate York, England
- Lifestyles and Portraiture Ife Nkili 1, Royal Photographic Society England and Grosvenor Estates London
- Look Photo Biennial Ife Nkili 1, Open Eye Gallery Liverpool, England
- Photo London Fair Ife Nkili 1, Representation on the line: (Un)framing our identities, Royal Photographic Society England London, Somerset House London
- Representation on the line: (Un)framing our identities Ife Nkili 1, Royal Photographic Society England Hundred Heroines – Chelsea, Doncaster and Blackpool, UK.
PROJECTS
- The Art of Grieving a visual series that explores grief following the sudden death of my Dad on the 3rd of April 2022
- Sis 2021 a visual series that explores the art of mental health associated with post lockdown unease and anxiety via the medium of photography, mixed media and film
- Luminscence a visual series that explores light and the mind of imagination which are my thoughts, messages, stories and ideas from my Chi. Chi in Igbo Cosmology is referred to as the “personal God,” the personal spirit of a person and the spirit which determines destiny (WORK IN PROGRESS)
- Sis 2020 a visual series documenting our personal experiences and emotions during the coronavirus outbreak and pandemic
- An Ode To Elysee a visual and textual series prompted by the various hairnets worn by black women one of which comes in a packaging branded “elysee”. The project explores the relationship Black women have with hairnets, silk scarves, bonnets
- I am not your mate a portrait and storytelling series focused on 26 senior citizens based in London. The project documents their experiences, dreams and fears
FESTIVALS
- Curator & Creative Director – Ife Nkili a Black women’s arts festival film celebrating the beauty of Black culture, identity and heritage, funded and supported by Arts Council England
FILMS
- 2023 Nwanyịbụịfe a thought – provoking art and documentary feature exploring identity, heritage, mental health, motherhood and family, LGBTQIA+ and climate change. A raw depiction of the lives and experiences of seven Black women from across the African diaspora, narrated in their native mother-tongue of Swahili, Yoruba, Igbo, Italian, Spanish, Swati, Lesotho, Kikuyu and Patois, with English subtitles
- 2024 Ijé Ụwá – IN DEVELOPMENT
BAFTA CONSIDERATION
- Nwanyịbụife was considered for a nomination in six categories for the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards
- Nwanyịbụife proudly stood as one of the remarkable British Films in foreign language shortlisted by BAFTA for the United Kingdom submission for consideration for the International Feature Award at the 2024 Academy Awards (The Oscars)
PRESS
- BBC Radio London Nwanyịbụịfe Press Run with Shay Grewal
- London Live TV Nwanyịbụịfe Press Run with Tanya Francis
- BBC Radio London Ife Nkili Press Run with LiisiFontaine and Noir Kringle
- Daily Trust Newspaper African culture, history, shape my stories – Chin We
- The Africa Show London by The African Centre London Artist Spotlight Press Run with Lyande Kaikai
- CNN The Leading African heroine women photographers to follow
TALKS
- PhotoForum London – Panel discussion: Diversity in Photojournalism with Anna Gordon, Chin We, Suzanne Plunkett and Helen Healy
PUBLICATIONS
- “I don’t know yet” a photobook by Chin We – a collection of images, stories, a photographic life, a life in images, a journey through time, uncertainties, the absence of people. A blend of the straightforward, the wry and the hopeful. The 180 pages plus photobook explores concepts of identity, culture and heritage of modern Britain and includes portraits, interviews, art, documentary, street, nature, landscape and conceptual photography documented all over England from 2018. The photobook will be filled with my soul, joy and emotions (WORK IN PROGRESS)
- African Lens Publication, Volume 5 African Lens is a publication by Aaron Yeboah Jr that showcases and shares the diverse stories of Africa. The publication shines a light on the beauty, rich and diverse culture of Africa. My images/photographs below
MEMBERSHIPS
- Women Photograph An evergreen catalogue of independent women photojournalists and visual storytellers
- World Press Photo An organisation connecting professionals and audiences through trustworthy visual journalism and storytelling
FEATURES
An interesting collection of features with Chin We, click to read
CONTACT
For general/work enquiries and collaborations. Please send an email to info.chinweart@gmail.com