This image by The Singh Twins, "O Come All Ye Re-eds", was created in 2000 as part of a collection called 'Painting the town Red'. Throughout their extensive collection of work, there is a consistent theme of observing society and translating it through their style of artwork, which introduces aspects of Indian miniature tradition within modern art practice.
Amrit Kaur Singh and Rabindra Kaur Singh, also known as The Singh Twins, are sikh sisters who immigrated to North England from the Punjab in India when they were very young. Since growing up they have always had an interest in Art, developing a more defined interest in iconography and religious paintings, whilst studying at roman catholic school. Throughout their academic career, The Twins faced prejudice towards their religion and ethnicity and felt that they were challenged alot because of it, inspiring them to go on and create art work that reflects their dual cultural identity.
Staying true to their Indian heritage, the twins employ production techniques of traditional miniature painting, which involves painting on a very small scale, used to create intricately detailed pieces. Simply, they use Poster colour, gouache and gold dust to create their pieces, to mirror traditional Indian techniques in a modern day Britain.
This piece in particular depicts a football match, located in the heart of liverpool, displaying iconic Liverpool landmarks to create an understanding of the Twins' background. The mixture of British and Indian influences in the piece subvert the stereotypical discourse of modern day British culture. By using an iconic image of a football match, quite a stereotypical british aspect, the twins have been able to create an interesting contrast between cultures, yet still maintaining an element of harmony. The use of a decorative floral border once again reflects the Indian heritage in the piece, by making a connection to traditional indian art works.
No comments:
Post a Comment