34 Gallery Artist: Emmanuel Nwachukwu -- 3X winner

"This series reflects the experience of solitude as an immigrant in the UK. It's a kind of  loneliness that lingers even in the busiest of places and times such as Christmas. My creative process began with observing and documenting the spaces where this solitude is most deeply felt: in crowded streets, quiet bus stops, and moments of introspection. 

Each  photograph is a meditation on what it means to feel disconnected, to search for comfort in  the unfamiliar, and to carry the weight of resilience and survival during times when others  are surrounded by family; some are seen to take on more work this period. In one image, I use traditional African fabric, a sentimental piece often gifted by Nigerian  parents to their children to project a sense of home and warmth. This fabric is more than  material; it is memory and comfort, a reminder of where I come from. 

These familiar objects, alongside moments of reflection and storytelling through photography, are part of  how I cope with feelings of loneliness and displacement. They ground me, offering a thread  back to my roots, even when everything around me feels foreign. This series is both  personal and universal, exploring how isolation can shape us and how we find ways to hold  onto hope in its midst."

"This image captures the quiet tension between movement and stillness, between the forces  that shape us and the moments where we pause to reflect on who we are becoming. The  restless waves crash against the shore, constantly reshaping the coastline, just as life’s  challenges leave their mark on us. In contrast, the golden hues of the sunset cast a feeling of  peace, a fleeting pause in the ever-changing rhythm of existence. 

The centre, silhouetted figures standing on the platform, each represent a different stage of  life and transformation. The child reaching upward, the adult observing, and the distant  figures walking along separate paths all reflect the continuous process of growth and self reinvention. Like the tides, we change, adapt, and sometimes find ourselves standing still  before taking the next step forward. Metamorphosis is not always loud or visible. Often, it is the quiet battle between external  pressures and internal healing. The storms of life, loss, uncertainty and personal doubt can  feel overwhelming, but just as the waves recede, there is always the possibility of renewal.  

This image invites reflection on how change, even when difficult, is an essential part of  personal and emotional well-being. Another question that beckons is “How do we find balance between the forces that shape  us and the stillness that restores us?" By embracing change with patience and self compassion, we allow ourselves the space to heal, to grow, and to emerge stronger. Just like  the ocean never stops moving, neither do we."