New exhibition for identical sister artists

Internationally acclaimed twin sister artists who spend hundreds of hours painting highly intricate works have opened a new exhibition.

The Singh Twins have chosen 11 prints and two new lightbox artworks to go on display, as part of Snape Maltings' summer arts programme in Suffolk.

The free exhibition, which runs until 20 July, fuses traditional Indian miniature art and digital media to explore themes and motifs around politics, identity and culture.

"It makes the point – and I think people will take that away – that we're all connected," said Amrit Singh.

The artworks have been chosen from The Singh Twins' Slaves of Fashion exhibition.

Awarded the MBE for their contribution to UK art, the British-born identical twins - who live near Liverpool - draw on their Indian heritage and western culture for inspiration.

The show explores the legacies of empire through the history of textiles.

"We'd like people to take away the key messages of our work - in this case, the history of colonialism and how that needs to be redressed," said Rabindra Singh.

"It also looks at how the legacies of empire still have visibility in the modern world, whether you're talking about attitudes to race, debates around colonial cultural ownership, for example."

Her sister continued: "Wherever you come from, whichever your background is, there will be something in your background you'll be able to relate to."

The free exhibition opened on 10 May and has been carefully curated by Devi Singh, who has worked in Suffolk's art world for years and has long been an admirer of the sisters' contemporary style.

"They tell a story that requires an element of concentration, but what's great about it is that you can look at the work and not see something and then come back and see something new, over and over again," she said.

"The detail is exquisite."

Snape Maltings is run by the charity Britten Pears Arts, which promotes cultural offerings.

The charity originated from the Lowestoft-born composer Benjamin Britten and his partner, the singer Peter Pears.

"We feel it's a real coup that they [The Singh Twins] accepted our invitation to come and show here," said the charity's Harry Young.

"It's part of our invitation to broaden our programme and to hopefully make it appeal to a more diverse audience.

"It's thrilling for us to have the work here."

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