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CHINWE CHUKWUOGO- ROY
 CHINWE is a versatile artist working in oils, etchings, monotypes, pastels and clay/bronze. Her subjects range from portraiture, still life and landscape, to images which capture the traditions and cultures of the African continent.
She has exhibited widely and her work is represented in public and private collections in many countries.
Chinwe received worldwide recognition for painting the official Golden Jubilee portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and for her work with a number of eminent personalities.
Chinwe has featured prominently in the media both for her art and also for her educational work with young people. Her biography published by Random House, is now studied by children in the UK as part of the National Curriculum. In 2003, on behalf of the UK , Chinwe addressed the European Council in Paris on Contemporary African Art and Artists, and later that year was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by the University of East Anglia . Chinwe's work appeared on the national postage stamps of seven countries during 2006
Some of Chinwe's many exhibition include the 'Celebrate' Exhibition which was specially organised in December 2003 for the Queen's visit for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja for which she painted a portrait of Chief Obasanjo, President of Nigeria. As well as over sixty pieces of her own Chinwe displayed the work of six other Nigerian artists, and started a major educational programme to encourage art in Nigerian schools. She also works regularly with schools and colleges in the UK (her current schedule includes working with children at East Bergholt School , Suffolk as part of the Eastfeast Programme in East Anglia).
‘Ancestral Footsteps' exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London , 2005 showcased a vast body of new works and was met with much acclaim; some of these were shown in Paris at le Hall Ségur, UNESCO in 2006. Her Land, Sea and Sunsets exhibition in May 2007 was at The Gallery in Cork Street , London .
In October 2007 Chinwe had a Residency at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Art, University of East Anglia and an unprecedented exhibition alongside the Sainsbury collection of Art. This year she has taken part in a group exhibition in Liverpool titled ‘Hawkins and Co.' an exhibition to mark the 200 th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade and celebrate Liverpool as the European City of Culture. She also exhibits regularly with the Sudbourne Printmakers Group locally and internationally.
Three solo exhibitions are planned for next year, one in Aldeburgh, Suffolk and two in London .
Chinwe was born in Awka , Nigeria and lived through the Biafra/Nigeria war. She came to England in 1975 studying Graphic Design and took up Fine Art professionally in 1988; she is now based in Suffolk , UK .
Konnections: What kind of pictures did you draw as a child and who or what has inspired you through the years?
Chinwe: Everything and anything, I would pick up pieces of wood and carve on them too. What got me into trouble was drawing my Maths teacher which I did because I found Maths so boring. When he caught me I was punished but funnily enough the more he punished me the more grotesque his image became. It got to the stage where he made me stand on my desk so he can see that my hands were not drawing him.
Konnections: What advice do you have for parents of children at school who love to draw? Sadly, there are still those who only see traditional professions like law, medicine and engineering as suitable careers.
Chinwe: It is the responsibility of parents to encourage children in their particular area of interest so long as it is legitimate. It makes such sense when you realise that a person will be better and work harder at something they enjoy doing. Asking an artist to be a doctor is like fitting a square peg in a round hole. If parents encourage children who are good at art to be the best they can be then they will go on to achieve. Art is not only about painting and sculpting it involves every area of life such as design which can vary from a leaflet to Street and Town planning taking Architecture on the way or from toy deign to space technology. It involves writing, making movies, theatre it goes on and on!!
Konnections : There seems to be a decline in the arts generally in Nigeria and our cultural heritage does not seem to be as protected and cherished as it should. There are some obvious reasons for some of the problems but I think we all need to think of solutions. What can those of us in the Diaspora do to help promote our culture and our artists?
Chinwe: Nigerians in the Diaspora have immense power from having straddled both Nigerian and European cultures. Because of the appreciation for Art in the West, they can provide support both commercially and physically (for instance attending exhibitions), which will give Nigerian artists confidence that fellow Nigerians are on their side.
With ancient works disappearing out of Nigeria , a lot more security to prevent this from continuing to happen is required. We need more well trained museum staff in curatorial, managerial and security right across the board to safeguard the national treasures that the country has left. As for the works already in the West, it is difficult to get them back I think it will need pressure at governmental level as these items have become quite politicized.
Konnections: Are African artists generally well represented on the world stage today? It would be great to have another Festival like FESTAC in 1977 even if it was on a slightly smaller scale.
Chinwe: Yes, African Art is often much better recognized and represented on the world stage than in our own countries. I do agree with you there about having another Festival of Arts but which country can afford to host it?
Konnections: Is African art generally considered to be an investment. Is it bought and sold by art lovers at Sotherbys?
Chinwe: Yes, a t some levels they are seen as great investments and do come up at Sotherbys too.
Konnections: What are the main things that one should bear in mind when purchasing art either for pleasure or investment?
Chinwe: One thing really, buy what you like and you will enjoy looking at for a long time. If you are going for investment alone, I suppose a well known and established artist is more likely to go up in value. If you have an eye for talent, then spotting young emerging artists is good too, so long as you can overlook the risk.
Konnections: Do you buy the paintings or art of other artists? Which 3 artists do you most admire and why?
Chinwe: I do have one or two works of contemporary Nigerian Artists. I've always loved and admired Ben Enwonwu's art, Rembrandt and Caravaggio too. Of the living artists it is so difficult but El Anatsui pips it for me, his work is sublime. I am sure you can guess I don't own any of these peoples work!!
Konnections: It must have been amazing and an honour to paint Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. How many sittings did it take? If you could paint any other person in the world who would this be and why?
Chinwe: I had 5 sittings with the Queen and another 5 painting her jewellery, including her tiara and dress. Any other person in the world, - Nelson Mandela without doubt. Why? Just to be in the presence of the great man himself and who knows, some of his wisdom might rub off!!!
Konnections : What are the best and worst moments that you have experienced as an artist?
Chinwe: I have had so many good and bad moments it's not easy to be so specific so I'll say one of the best is being asked to paint the portrait HM Queen Elizabeth II and one of the worst was seeing my finished portrait destroyed just two days before the sitter was due to come and collect it.
Konnections: When you are not working on your art how do you relax or wind down?
Chinwe: Ah well easy!!! Watching Arsenal play wonderful football.
To find out more information about Chinwe, regarding commissions or bookings please visit her website at http://www.chinweroy.com/pages/contact.html
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