“Our work bridges many worlds, the ancient and the modern; fusing both Western
and Eastern aesthetic elements … using an ancient art form to deal with
contemporary issues. Our aim is to introduce wider audiences to the beauty,
richness and continuing value of our heritage within contemporary art and society.”
Ever since visiting India for the first time in 1980, we have been fascinated by the
Indian miniature painting tradition - not least because of the exquisite detail, technical skill
and breathtaking level of perfection displayed by this traditional art form. For us it was such a
highly appealing style whose rich narrative and symbolic character made it a superb medium
of communication that we felt transcended cultural and historical barriers.
But we were disappointed to find that within India’s Contemporary art scene the miniature
genre seemed to have been largely neglected in favour of Western role models by Indian
artists and Institutions eager to be accepted by the world of Modern Art. Indian miniature
paintings were viewed as historic and outdated and the tradition. Consequently the tradition
has only really survived in the form of mass produced, and often badly executed, copies of
conventional scenes churned out for the tourist souvenir market.
Initially, we wanted to revive not only India’s interest in this rejected and undervalued
tradition but also bring this rich heritage to the attention of the wider global audience as a
way of challenging what we saw as a generally prevailing “West is Best” attitude. And so we
began to teach ourselves the techniques and style of the miniature by studying reproductions
in books and original examples in Museums in the UK.
Later, however, our determination to explore and develop the miniature became even
stronger due to the institutionalised prejudice we faced whilst studying for our BA (Hons)
degree in art. We were heavily criticised for drawing inspiration from an art form that was
both traditional and rooted in Eastern Aesthetics. In addition, the work we produced
individually was also seen as ‘unacceptable’ because of the similarity of our styles –
something which had naturally developed as a result of our inspiration coming from a
common source as well as our pursuit of common interests and goals. In fact, it seemed that
our work represented all the taboos of Contemporary Western art in that it was decorative,
figurative, narrative, small scale, non-individualistic and coming from a non-European
tradition!
Resisting the pressure put on us by our art tutors to conform to Western aesthetics and look
to the so called ‘Fathers of Modern Art’ for inspiration our adhering to the miniature style was
our way of asserted the right to choose a visual language which was true to our own interest
in art and the natural affiliation and pride we felt for our Asian heritage – our rebellion against
a system that judged art according to Western values and definitions - as opposed to just
bending to the dictates of the Art Establishment in order to be accepted. And It was against
this background too that our practice of working and exhibiting together (as well as dressing
identically) was formed as a political statement against the hypocrisy of an Establishment
which advocated the western values of ‘self expression’ and ‘individuality’ as the ‘be all and
end all’ of Modern Art, yet denied the validity of anything which did not comply with the
expectations dictated by its selective, Eurocentric perspective.
Whilst asserting the right to define our own cultural and artistic ‘individuality’ in a way that is
meaningful and true to whom we are as British Asians, artists and twins our work redresses
the need to re-evaluate established cultural definitions, values and role models within the
wider context of an evolving global society dominated by western consumer markets and
popular culture. This is because, ultimately, our artistic strategy is defined by a sense of
responsibility to look beyond personal issues of identity towards exposing wider cultural
prejudices and highlighting other concerns of more global significance.
The desire to make a real difference through our work has fuelled our determination in
establishing an international profile that demands acceptance on our own terms – creating a
recognised platform for serious debate which has a meaningful impact in challenging
pervading social, political and cultural attitudes.
INSPIRATION
Inspiration