Contact Abhi Chinniah
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Abhi Chinniah (full name: Abhirami / அபிராமி) is a visual artist whose primary medium is photography, working across fine art and documentary practices. Her self-taught practice centres on migratory journeys and the ways identity and belonging take shape across generations.
Born in Ōtautahi Christchurch to Sri Lankan Tamil Malaysian parents, Abhi grew up on Malaysia's East Coast before settling in Auckland, New Zealand.
Her practice is developed through interconnected photo essays that each examine different aspects of migration and diaspora. Her projects include Light Skin Dark Skin, Melanin Rising, A Migrant’s Path, and Nirantharam நிரந்தரம், an ongoing body of work documenting the histories and contemporary experiences of the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora through a colonial and post-colonial lens.
Abhi’s wider archive has been presented in a solo exhibition at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery, and her collections are held in the permanent archives of the National Library of New Zealand and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Abhi divides her time between Malaysia and New Zealand.
CV {Selected}
Collections & Acquisitions
2022 - The National Library of New Zealand, Light Skin Dark Skin & A Migrant’s Path
2025 - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Membership
Women Photograph
Grants, Awards & Recognition
2026 - Nirantharam நிரந்தரம் featured in We Are Magazine (Women in Photography, Royal Photographic Society)
2024 - Annual A Year in Photographs, Women Photograph
2024 – International Panellist, The Tamil Academic Journal
2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026 – Asian Artist Fund, Foundation North, Funding Recipient, Assessor, Panel Member & Advisor
2023—My photograph was featured on the cover, and my work was analysed in the Turnbull (National) Library Record, Vol. 55.
2022 – Kuala Lumpur International Photo Awards, Finalist
2022 – Asian Artist Fund, Foundation North, Grant Recipient
2022 – Auckland Tamil Association, Excellence Achievement Award
2021 & 2023 – Ministry for Ethnic Communities Grant Recipient
2021 – Auckland Photo Day Judge, Auckland Festival of Photography
2019 – Finalist, Trustpower Photographic Exhibition, Tauranga
Solo Exhibitions
2024 – New Zealand Portrait Gallery
2024 - Precinct Properties, Auckland CBD
2023 – Te Atamira, Queenstown & Franklin Arts Centre
2023 – The University of Auckland
2021 – Depot Artspace
Group Exhibitions
2026 - Slow Burn Ahi Tāmau, Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa
2025 - ‘The Light Within’ for Auckland City Council. Curated by Abhi Chinniah.
2023 – A Place to Call Home: Contemporary Asian Art in New Zealand, Bergman Gallery
2022 - Artist on Artist, Studio One Toi Tū
2022 – Kuala Lumpur International Photo Awards, Finalist Exhibition, Temu House, Kuala Lumpur