YiNa chan

All my life I’ve been asked about my origins. Who are you? Where are you really from? My father is Chinese from the island of Penang on the west coast of Malaysia, and my mother is from the deep forests of Trysil. I was born in Eastbourne in England. We moved a lot when I was growing up, but had a base in Rælingen, Norway, which we returned to every other school year. I got my first camera, a Polaroid, when I was seven years old and I photographed my friends on the soccer field, my budgie dying, my sister dressing up. It was a way for me to collect life when everything was in transit and we were moving from one place to another.

Identity has always been important to me. Who am I when I'm here? Who am I when I'm there? Why am I the way I am? How can I be accepted? Where is home?

With documentary photography being so close to my heart, I like pictures that tell a story, say something about us, about the times we live in, about the lives we live, about who we are.

My photographs have a clear, multi-layered voice that the viewer can return to with new stories as their perspective evolves and changes, as do I.

Exhibitions / art decoration / talks

2023 Artist talk with A Female Gaze - Hos Arne

2023 “SELF-ish part 2” by A Female Gaze - Hos Arne

2023 Artist talk - Nordic Light Festival of Photography

2023 “Alter Ego” - Nordic Light Festival of Photography

2023 “SELF-ish part 1” by A Female Gaze - Oslo Negativ Fotofestival

2023 “There is More” - Group show, Galleri Grotten.

2022 “As Long as You Go Somewhere” - Collaboration with Tone Emblemsvåg. Pop-Up at Harbitz Torg.

2021 Romeriksutstillingen - Juried group show.

2021 “Alter Ego” - Kulturnatt-torget in partnership with Oslo Kulturnatt og Visit Oslo.

2017 Fotografiets Dag - Preus Museum, Horten, Norway. Juried group show.

2016  Ingen barn skal dø skal i Middelhavet - Group show for Save The Children Norway. Contributing artists: Lisa Aisato, Tone Emblemsvåg, Signe Andersen, Torill Kove, Hilde Marstrander, Fam Irvoll, Ståle Gerhardsen, TegneHanne, Stian Hole, Jenny Jordahl

2007  Fotografiets Dag - Preus Museum, Horten, Norway. Juried group show.

2007  “Madserud gård” - Installation art for Rom Eiendom, Oslo, Norway. 

2003  "En spansk en” - Haustfargefest. Hundorp, Vinstra, Norway.

2003  Rockfoto - Hultsfredfestival. Hultsfred, Sweden. Juried group show.

2002  "“Traffic Jam- Innercity art attack” - Group show in shed 55 in Bjørvika (Oslo Opera House). Oslo, Norway. Contributing artists: Pushwagner, Tone Emblemsvåg, 1561, Unni Askeland, Goal, Anders Eiebakke, K.Hong, Anders Lian, Mack, Sverre Malling, Mr. Mucho, Pil&Bue. 

2002  “Wild Weekend” - Photos and installation for garage rock festival by Rock&Spesialreiser at Gamla, Oslo, Norway. Producer and project manager. Contributing photographers: Kristin Svorte og Frank Karlsen.

2002  Rockfoto - Hultsfredfestival. Hultsfred, Sweden. Juried group show and second prize for photo of Norwegian band Gluecifer.

2001   Rockfoto - Hultsfredfestival. Hultsfred, Sweden. Juried group show.

2001   “Paradis” - Photo installation on floor of The Robert Meyer Academy. Oslo, Norway.

2001   “Zapix” - Commissioned work for Zap headquarters, youth initiative, under Ringnes/Orkla. Oslo, Norway.

2000 “Munn Over Oslo” - 10 black/white photos on 100 billboards all over Oslo, Norway. Producer and project manager.

1999   “duerhvaduspiser” - Commissioned work for Delicatessen, Grünerløkka, Oslo, Norway.

1999   “FOTFETISSSSJ” - Akers Mic, Akersgata, Oslo, Norway.