Introduction

It's been said that a father lifts you up when you are born and holds there for life. We were blessed with a father who went so much further. He stood us upon his shoulders so that we could attain new heights and reach for the stars.

Both in our personal development and in our chosen career as artists he has been beside us every step of the way as a loving parent, teacher and role model: sharing his philosophy of life; imparting through his own example the ethics and values he carried with him from India to England in 1948 as a young boy of nine; providing experiences and opportunities which underpin the deep passion we have for our Punjabi, Sikh, Indian roots today; and making sure we had everything we needed to excel in life and to pursue our love of art.

In 1980 our father Dr. Karnail Singh ji took us on a remarkable journey to India to learn about our cultural heritage in all its diversity. It was his first time back in thirty years and in keeping with his adventurous spirit he drove us across land in a home-made caravan all the way from England, through Europe, the Middle East (right in the middle of the Iran-Iraq war!), Pakistan, and finally into India where we travelled around for almost a year.

A life changing experience, it was during this adventure that we (just teenagers at the time) discovered the exquisite and breathtaking skillful art of Indian miniatures, the ancient painting tradition which became a defining influence on the distinctive, personal artistic style that we later came to develop as University art students and for which we are best known internationally today as contemporary British artists.

Looking back on our artistic practice over last thirty-five years, our father's unwavering support and presence in our lives is not only ingrained in the aesthetics, in the imagery, and in the multiple themes and messages of our work, but also lies behind every milestone of recognition we have achieved as artists. The artworks which we have chosen to feature in this year's Sikhlens calendar pay tribute to this, whilst illuminating on some of the core values, teachings, philosophy and histories from Sikh, Punjabi, Indian heritage which under his influence, we have come to represent and continue to celebrate through our art.

ABOUT THE SINGH TWINS

The Singh Twins are award-winning contemporary British artists with an international reputation, known for their highly detailed, narrative, symbolic and eclectic style which is rooted in Indian miniature painting aesthetics but also draws on the stylistic conventions and symbolic language of other artistic traditions from across the centuries. Describing their art as 'Past-Modern', the Twins combine hand-painted techniques with modern digital creative technologies to create works that explore both historical and current themes around society, politics and culture; demonstrate the contemporary relevance of history and tradition; and challenge Eurocentrism in the art world and in wider society. Inspired by their own identity and experience as British Asians, they are especially interested in dialogues around empire, colonialism and their legacies. In 2010 they were made Honorary Citizens of Liverpool and in 2011 they each received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II for 'services to the Indian miniature tradition of contemporary art'. They have since been awarded three Honorary Doctorates and an Honorary Professorship for their 'outstanding contribution to British art'. The hugely successful solo exhibition of their most recent series ('Slaves of Fashion') at Firstsite Gallery in 2022 led to their being put forward by public curator nomination to be considered by the jury to represent Britain at the prestigious Venice Biennale in 2024.

The Twins' works are in private and public collections worldwide - including the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto; National Museums Liverpool; National Museums Scotland; Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam; the National Heritage Board, Singapore; the Manchester Museum; and the Government Art Collection, UK. Amongst some of their best-known public commissions are two paintings celebrating Liverpool's 800th birthday and status as European Capital of Culture in 2008; a symbolic portrait of Maharaja Duleep Singh (created for National Museums Scotland); and EnTWINed (commissioned by the Museum of London) - their contemporary response to the Indian 'Mutiny'. Past exhibitions include solo shows at London's National Portrait Gallery, National Museums Liverpool, National Museums Scotland, the National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai, and the National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi, when, in 2002, they became the only British artists (besides Henry Moore) to have been offered a solo show at this, one of India's foremost venues for contemporary art. The Twins have also exhibited individual works by special invitation at the Royal Academy, and at Tate Britain.

The Singh Twins are also film makers and writers. Their latest publication, a coffee table book titled, 'Slaves of Fashion: Art of The Singh Twins-Personal Reflections on Hidden Stories of Empire, Colonialism and Their Legacies' (released by Manchester University Press in 2025) was produced with generous support from Sikhlens.

Website: www.singhtwins.co.uk

Instagram: @thesinghtwins_art

Facebook page: The Singh Twins