Alternative A-Z of Empire, The Singh Twins, 2022 Part of The Singh Twins: Slaves of Fashion exhibition Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery and East Gallery, Norwich University of the Arts 1 October 2022 – 22 January 2023 A new artwork, commissioned by Norfolk Museums Service by internationally renowned artists, The Singh Twins, has gone on public display for the first time at Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery.
The piece, titled Alternative A-Z of Empire, has been inspired by the collections at Norwich Castle and is displayed as part of the exhibition The Singh Twins: Slaves of Fashion which is showing across Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery and East Gallery, Norwich University of the Arts until 22 January 2023.
The Singh Twins, known for pioneering a modern development of the Indian miniature tradition within contemporary art practice to address a range of modern, social and political themes, have spent months researching the collections at Norwich Castle. The result is a remarkable, thought-provoking new work which brings fresh perspectives to the objects that have inspired it and probes historical perceptions of empire and colonialism. The commission has been generously supported by the Art Fund, the Friends of the Norwich Museums and Norfolk Contemporary Art Society.
The Singh Twins say: “Issues around shared heritage and identity which challenge generally accepted notions of cultural ownership and the perceived divide between East and West and past and present, have always been central to our art. Our aim in working with Norfolk Museums Collections for our ‘Slaves of Fashion’ exhibition and newly commissioned artwork was to explore what seemingly unrelated objects from different periods and cultures reveal about the story of Empire and colonialism and how we are all connected to it both historically and today.”
Cllr. John Ward, Chairman of the Norfolk Joint Museums Committee, says: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to show The Singh Twins’ latest commissioned work at Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, which takes direct inspiration from objects in Norfolk Museums Service’s collections and allows the museum to interpret them in a fresh and unexpected way. Through this exciting new work, visitors will be able to see familiar objects in a different context.”
Dr Rosy Gray, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Norwich Castle says: “We’re thrilled to be able to work with The Singh Twins on research into our own collections. As well as resulting in a new work for exhibition and our collections, this collaboration is enabling us to add another layer of interpretation to collections from across the Service. Such perspectives bring fresh relevance to these objects and insight into historical attitudes, opening up new avenues of dialogue and debate.”
Rachael Browning, Head of Progamme Development, Art Fund, said: “This new commission encapsulates the creative possibilities of bringing together museum collections and contemporary artists, and we are delighted that Art Fund’s support will allow this exciting new work of art to be experienced by visitors today and future generations at Norwich Castle.”
Chris Mardell, Chair of Norfolk Contemporary Art Society, says: “The Twins highly decorative, narrative and symbolic work, has been recognised as pioneering a modern revival of Indian miniature painting within contemporary art practice. As the Singh Twins state: ‘It’s about redefining accepted notions of culture and identity, about challenging perceived differences between east and west, modernity and tradition and the ingrained cultural prejudices that stem from persisting notions of western superiority which we feel are rooted in outdated colonial attitudes.’ ncas are delighted to support the Castle again, in procuring a commissioned piece which takes direct inspiration from objects in Norfolk Museums Service’s collections.”
Charles Bingham-Newland, Chair of the Friends of the Norwich Museums, says: “The Friends of the Norwich Museums has been supporting acquisitions for the collections at Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery for over a century. We were delighted to be able to support this wonderful commission as part of our ongoing role in ensuring these remarkable collections remain dynamic and responsive, attracting new audiences into the future.” Commission – Alternative A-Z of Empire This new work will enter the collection at Norwich Castle, providing a permanent legacy for The Singh Twins’ important body of research. The commission takes as its starting point an 18th century jigsaw puzzle titled Inhabitants of The World Alphabetically Arrang’d from Norfolk Museums Service’s collection.
The commission explores and responds to this and other objects which are connected to the global story of empire and colonialism, providing new connections informed by The Singh Twins’ own British-Asian cultural heritage, identity and experience. Like the jigsaw, the commission comprises a series of pieces representing each letter from A-Z, alphabetically arranged as a single mixed-media artwork. The work incorporates a narrative poem, with each letter offering a different interpretation on themes relating to Empire, colonialism and its legacies.
The Singh Twins describe the concept of the jigsaw puzzle – a single image comprised of many separate but interlinked pieces – as symbolically representing the nature of colonial history as a global story; individual but interconnected narratives shaped by different experiences and viewpoints. The Singh Twins describe the purpose of the work as not presenting a comprehensive, systematic, or chronological account of colonial history but, rather, a selection of facts, observations and anecdotes that collectively serve to represent key moments and characteristics.
Such an approach, suggest the artists, challenges popular misperceptions about the nature of Empire, stimulating debate about this important chapter of our collective human experience. In doing so, the work directly addresses many of the legacies of empire and colonialism such as migration, multiculturalism and debates around race and racism, and invites the viewer to think about their own responses to these issues:
As you read this A to Zee You may choose to disagree So add your voice to what’s been told And help more stories to unfold Because this artwork has an aim - Not to lay the guilt or blame But both to challenge and reveal How different people think and feel About a past - which, if it could Be much more widely understood Would help to pave a better way Of living in the world today.
Alongside the new work, The Singh Twins: Slaves of Fashion exhibition presents over 20 works by The Singh Twins, together with artist films and historical material, exploring the hidden narratives of Empire, Colonialism, conflict and slavery through the lens of India’s historical textile trade and its relevance to modern day legacies and debates around ethical consumerism, racism and politics of trade. In particular, this exhibition focuses on the relationship between Britain and India to uncover hidden details of Europe’s colonial past and its legacies. The exhibition is generously supported by the East Anglia Art Fund.