Art
President Kalam Visits SIKHS IN PRINT Exhibit
With just over one week to go before it closes, a unique exhibition celebrating an important aspect of shared British-Sikh heritage and curated by the internationally renowned artist duo, The Singh Twins, was graced by a visit from the former President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam.
The exhibition, titled Sikhs in Print, which highlights choice pieces from the Singh Twins' private collection of historic printed images pertaining to the Sikh community and its ongoing connection with British history, is thought to be the first of its kind in the U.K. and has proved extremely popular after its high profile launch earlier this year at St. George's Hall in the Twins' home city of Liverpool, live on BBC Radio.
Regarded as the People's President (serving from 2002 - 2007) and voted "India's Best President", Dr. Kalam was in Liverpool this week to give a keynote speech at The Big Hope Global Youth Congress, organized as part of the city's official celebrations of its status as European Capital of Culture in 2008.
President Kalam's involvement in the event, which is co-hosted by Liverpool Hope University and the Liverpool-based Indian arts festival group, Milapfest, was met with tremendous excitement, particularly amongst members of the Sikh-Briton and Indian community, who travelled from far and near to hear the former president speak.
The Singh Twins, whose international reputation as artists won them the Liverpool Art Prize Peoples' Award and a place in The Oxford Encyclopaedia of Women in World History earlier this year, were also guest speakers at the Congress - presenting a talk on their Indian miniature inspired paintings, which addressed one of the main themes of the event - How Arts Can Save The World.
Taking a break from the Congress, President Kalam was given a private tour of the city, including Liverpool's largest civic building, St. George's Hall, where the Singh Twins guided him round the Sikhs In Print exhibition.
Afterwards, the president was introduced to the history of Liverpool through one of the Singh Twins' public commissioned paintings, "Liverpool 800", which was formally unveiled by Prince Charles last year at St. George's Hall Heritage Centre, where it is now permanently displayed.
Commissioned by the Liverpool Culture Company to celebrate the city's 800th birthday in 2007, the painting is now the subject of an Arts Council funded animation film titled The Making of Liverpool, which will have its U.S. premier screening on June 21, 2008 at the prestigious Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington D.C.
The Singh Twins will be attending the screening as invited guests of The Spinning Wheel Film Festival of Washington, D.C., where they will be contributing to the Producer's Q & A Panel.
Sikhs in Print
An Exhibition of shared British-Indian Heritage
St. George's Hall Heritage Centre
Liverpool
Now running - until June 20.
For further information,
Contact twinstudio@hotmail.com
07738710542
June 12, 2008