The Royal Sister Act

For those who have not yet heard of them,the two London-born girls are extremely talented women who paint intricate miniatures,and work on the same painting at the same time. Their work,even though it follows the miniature style,has several contemporary themes woven into it and has evolved beyond the traditional painting. “We are passionate about representing a positive image about the Liverpool art and cultural district,but we are happier to bring it to an Indian audience,” says Amrit. “Through the miniature format,we are embracing our traditional heritage rather than moving away from it. We found that our paintings and the animation film project have a universal appeal even though it is so specific to the city of Liverpool,” says Rabindra,whose film The Making of Liverpool had its India premier at the stall of Art Alive Gallery,at the India Art Summit in January. The exhibition in Delhi that opened on September 17,will showcase mixed media works,priced at Rs 4.75 lakh each,a book that is an in-depth study of their style,working processes and artistic references. It will also include a DVD of their film (priced at Rs 800) apart from signed and numbered edition of prints at Rs 20,000 each.

“ We were commissioned to make this animation for ‘Liverpool at 800 festival’,that marked the city’s transition from being a Maritime port to its status as the European cultural port in 2008. The film is based on the 20×30 inch painting that we did for public display,” says Amrit. The video is layered with a plethora of paintings with details,that move from the central image of Poseidon to the Greek God of the seas and then to Triton. On the seafront are the three important buildings,the Liver Bird Building,the Cunard Building and The Customs House. The works have intricate details like a banner carrying the portrait of Guru Nanak,that marks 500 years of Sikhism,and a Bollywood theatre projecting scenes from Mughal -e- Azam and King Kong via a projector on the Empire State building that has been replicated in Liverpool. “We wanted to stress that Liverpool is more than just the Beatles and rugby,” says Amrit.

The twins researched for the painting and the film for over six months before they even began to paint it. They also worked on the animation with musician Steve Mason and performance artist Mark McGowan. The two also roped in cinematographer Andi Cooper,who has worked behind the scenes in films like Lord of the Rings and East is East.

“Before we were painters we were researchers,” says Rabindra,who lets it slip that they actually had intentions of studying medicine,but an adamant art teacher packed them off to the University College of Chester. “We are glad that we did not study medicine as was planned earlier. Now we cannot think of anything but painting and animation,” says Amrit. Their Mumbai show at Sakshi Art Gallery,comprises a series of paintings that refer to the science of tarot card readings. If this is anything to go by,the future looks bright for the twins.

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