Creative Practice chat, 2024

An online exchange between Cheniece and fellow creative Tasch Von Uekull around Chen's current creative practice in 2024.

1) Hi Chen, could you tell us a little bit more about who you are and your creative practice?

Hey! Yes, my name is Cheniece (Chen), I live in North London, Enfield and I am a multidisciplinary artist, photographer and facilitator. My creative practice is centred around capturing moments of the human condition using a mixture of poetry, movement, sound, photography and paper crafts as a way to express, reflect and connect. 

2) What are the main influences and inspirations behind your work? What drives you to create?

Cultivating connections & Pressure-free creation!

As humans we are connected on so many levels; through the people we know, our loves, hates, careers, feelings and traumas. I really love meeting people and finding our the similarities and differences in our experiences and even more so in groups too! I then also love finding ways to express, create and make those experiences tangible in text, photography or movement (anything artsy!) without the pressure of making a ‘perfect’ product, just enjoying the process and connections built. 

3) Could you share more about any projects you are working on at the moment?

I am currently mind mapping ways I can express my feelings and experience as someone living with a chronic illness through creating a mini zine series, sharing the questions, thoughts,  routines and the feeling of an unknown future. I am also focussing on facilitation, I am wanting to create spaces that allow young people and adults to briefly step away from the hustle and bustle of life and ‘melt’ for an hour or two into a creative medium with me,  a time for pressure-free creation and mindful creativity. 

4) What key tips would you give to creatives looking to step into the world of freelance work? How do you find clients and build networks in creative industries?

Oooo yes some tips I’d give to fellow creatives stepping into the world of freelance are:

- Network! Network can be a sticky word but its so important to think about all the people connected to you: family, friends, previous colleagues, peers, people you look up to in your industry. They are your people and you both share the potential to exchange lessons, encourage one another and share opportunities.

-Find a way that works for you to share your creative endeavours. This could be on social media, your website, in galleries, as part of workshops. There is only one wrong way when it feels difficult and weighing on you, that is when it becomes a chore and passionless. 

- Everyone's journey looks different, you will discover a way that works for you. Progress is not linear but entails peaks, dips, swirls and pauses.

- And lastly, remember what you have done, not what you can't do yet.

5) What would you say has been your biggest challenge on your creative journey so far?

I would say my biggest challenge so far is not believing in myself as a freelancer and creative. It can be really hard to stay sure of your abilities and to know your worth as you enter work. There are no blueprints to tell you how to be the creative you want to be and if there were everyone would be doing it! There have been people before you and there will be people after you but everyone is in a whirlwind of learning, trialling, falling short and succeeding. I think having a solid support network where encouragement and feedback can be exchanged can push you to take those next steps.

6) What's the best piece of advice you've been given and how has it helped you?

Sharing what you are doing in any way is not boasting or gloating. You are sharing your journey at its best and making stages, people want to know about you, what you care about and your process- no matter how big or small. This helped me when coming to creating my website/social and talking about my work with people. It has taught me to enjoy what I have done and be proud of it.

7) And lastly, what are your aspirations for 2024?

To build a consistent flow of work, dedicate more time to be creative, hone my methods and approaches as a creative facilitator and rest before I am in dire need of it (avoid burnout!)