Upcoming Events

CHIVA Africa and South African documentary photographer Matthew Willman present “Vukukhanye: Rising Up.” A Photographic Exhibition At La Galleria Pall Mall, London.

Fundraiser For CHIVA Africa’s Groundbreaking Work to Combat Paediatric AIDS in South Africa and the Matthew Willman Visual Arts Foundation.

Unique ‘Nobel 3’ trio of signed photographs of Nelson Mandela, FW De Klerk and Desmond Tutu for sale at auction.

CHIVA Africa and renowned South African documentary photographer Matthew Willman join forces to present “Vukukhanye: Rising Up” an exhibition of Matthew Willman’s images documenting individuals and organisations impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa. 

As a commissioned photographer for the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Willman has a unique window into the South African story.  

The centrepiece of the exhibition and auction is Nobel 3, a one off collection of images of South African Nobel Laureates: Nelson Mandela, FW De Klerk and Desmond Tutu. 

The collection celebrates three impressive men and the history of a nation working towards its ideals.  Each print is signed by the respective Laureate. 

Proceeds from the sale and auction of the photographs from Willman’s portfolio including Nobel 3 and a signed portrait of Annie Lennox will go to support the work of CHIVA Africa and the Matthew Willman Visual Arts Foundation.

The exhibition will run from Monday 30^th April to Thursday 3^rd May. 

The Auction will take place on Thursday 3^rd May 8pm

Venue: La Galleria Pall Mall, 30 Royal Opera Arcade, London SW1Y 4UY.  

To register interest or for more information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Matthew Willman: Renowned Documentary Photographer

Matthew Willman is a renowned freelance documentary photographer working across Southern Africa documenting courageous individuals and communities whose daily challenges include HIV/ AIDS, poverty and lack of education as well as noteworthy individuals who contribute to freedom and democracy in South Africa.

Wilman has worked with world-leading organisations that include Oxfam International, World Health Organisation and the European Commission.  His commissions have included places as diverse as Robben Island, Inanda Heritage, The Royal Ballet School in London, Tromso in the Arctic Circle and Red Fern Aboriginal Centre in Australia.  He has photographed Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Annie Lennox, FW De Klerk, The Dalai Lama and US President Bill Clinton.

For the past seven years Willman has worked as a commissioned photographer to the Nelson Mandela Foundation.   Wilman says: “In 2001, I began a journey as a young photographer to discover who we were as a nation, the hopes, the fears, our accomplishments and most importantly the reality of who we are today on the other side of Apartheid. I discovered a nation torn by racial divides and a history still working itself out of our society. It took me nine years to achieve the single most inspiring shoot I have done to date, and that was to find myself sitting by a window on a cool August morning in Johannesburg with a man who helped define a nation. Nelson Mandela. 

“In 2005 I began work on a simple but almost impossible project to record in black and white three men who have received the Nobel Peace Prize, namely Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and FW De Klerk. Three portraits. Three leaders. The process took over five years to complete.” 

Matthew Willman is the founder of the Matthew Willman Foundation for the Visual Arts that aims to further the development of individuals and communities through programs and projects that inspire change and progression through the impact and promotion of the visual arts.

In addition to the exhibition, CHIVA Africa in partnership with The Matthew Willman Foundation for the Visual Arts will showcase a collection of limited edition photographic prints that have iconic value as intimate set pieces of historic value. The collection includes iconic African cultures, landscapes, intimate depictions from Robben Island to the Inanda Heritage, Nelson Mandela to FW De Klerk.

For more info on Matthew Willman please visit www.matthewwillman.co.za or www.mwvaf.org

Mr. Mandela very rarely if ever signs anything not managed by Mandela Foundation and Mr. Tutu has since "Vukukhanye"withdrawn from official life. In that way the exhibition is quite sensational.

Matthew Willman has a God-given talent as a storyteller and photographer. He says about the exhibition: HIV/AIDS is a human story, the exhibition aims at telling this story through the visual medium, moving away from statistics and offering personal insights so as to allow the audience an opportunity to engage and develop a better understanding of the committment, passion and faith based communities and individuals possess in overcoming this huge challenge". He works in small communities, close to those who are affected, and speaks from the grass-roots.

Over the course of a decade, South African photographer Matthew Willman has documented those who must live with HIV/AIDS on a daily basis, be they individuals or organizations. The photographs reflect his experiences, sensitivity and understanding of the ethical challenges that this type of documentation entails. As a humanist and photographer, he is embraced by many, including Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and Annie Lennox, who give their support to "VUKUKANYE - RISING UP" through signed photographs in the exhibition.

Matthew Willman has chosen his focus: He wants to communicate the burning commitment that South African individuals, local communities and organisations show in their encounters with the pandemic. He wants to show an Africa that is standing up and taking responsibility".

Other Key facts about Matthew Willman and his work.

• Matthew has served as a commissioned photographer to The Nelson Mandela Foundation for the past 8 years and has contributed to all of Mr Mandela's initiatives, interpreting visually his hopes and dreams for a united South Africa.
• Through active partnerships Matthew's work has exhibited to lobby and raise funds / awareness for programs internationally.

Exhibitions include:

• World Forum on HIV & Aids: Mexico
• World Human Rights Day: London
• Oxfam International: Australia
• Robben Island: Wales
• World Congress on HIV & Aids: Canada
• Vukukhanye: Norway
• Africa Alive: South Africa
• Robben Island: World Heritage Site: Over an 18 months period Willman created a definitive collection of images of the Island. 18 of which Mr Mandela used to launch - The Mandela Centre of Memory in 2004