by Rabindra K.D Kaur Singh

PART OF THE IQBALNAMA SERIES

In both its composition and style, this formal portrait of Lord Iqbal Singh is modelled on the conventional Imperial portraits of the Mughal School of miniature painting. It pays tribute to Lord Iqbal Singh's well publicised personal interest in the promotion of Scottish culture in general and, in particular, his commissioning of the first officially registered Tartan for the Scottish Asian community - the 'Singh Tartan'.

In the bottom left border, a Punjabi weaver produces the 'Singh Tartan' whilst, on the right, a Scottish weaver produces a paisley shawl. The two lengths of cloth meet and fuse in the centre - thus symbolising the interchange between and fusion of Scottish and Punjabi culture that has taken place in the past and continues in the present. Significantly, the loom on the left is engraved with the thistle emblem of Locharron of Scotland - the company that produced the Singh Tartan), whilst the loom on the right bears the arrow symbol of Maharaja Ranjit Singh - the Sikh ruler who introduced the Kashmiri (or Paisley shawl as it was later called) to Scotland. In this respect, history records that Ranjit Singh first exported shawls from Punjab and then sent twelve Punjabi families to train the weavers of Paisley in the art of paisley shawl making. The strong historical links that exist between Punjabi and Scottish culture is further represented by the Lion and the Marigold (Punjab) and the Stag and Thistle (Scotland) motifs decorating the border. Lord Iqbal Singh's warm affection for Scotland is indicated by the Scottish flag which support his family crest.

To go on display in 2011

Image:© The Singh Twins