Introduction

The Singh Twins are contemporary British artists of international standing, whose award-winning paintings have been acknowledged as constituting a unique genre in British art and for initiating a new movement in the revival of the Indian miniature tradition within modern art practice. Describing their work as 'Past Modern' (as opposed to Post Modern), they engage with important areas of critical debate, challenging existing stereotypes and redefining generally accepted, narrow perceptions of heritage and identity in art and society.

The 2012 Sikhpoint Calendar is the first in a special Going Global series which will be dedicated to an aspect of the Diaspora Sikh community. This year looks at Sikhs in Canada through the eyes of The Singh Twins, focusing on the artwork they were commissioned to create for Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum collections. Each month presents specific details from the painting.

The painting, which took several months to complete, is executed in the Twins' unique Past-Modern Indian miniaturist style. The iconography and symbolism within the work reflect the artists' personal experience of the community in Canada as well as the research they did for the commission, offering a selective overview of Canadian Sikh history and achievements.