Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Singh twins honour BAME staff in artwork

By Amit Roy

THE Singh Twins, Amrit and Rabindra Kaur, have referenced an Eastern Eye exclusive, in their new artwork, NHS V Covid-19-19: Fighting on Two Fronts.


The newspaper’s report from May 8, by executive editor Shailesh Solanki, based on an interview with health secretary Matt Hancock, was headlined, “We owe the inquiry to BAME victims”, on the front page, and “NHS ‘needs BAME staff to run’ ” inside.

The mixed media artwork, in the Twins’ charac­teristic Mughal miniature style, “pays tribute to NHS and other frontline health care workers while pre­senting a satirical look at the government’s handling of the crisis and challenging notions of Britishness”.

“Special emphasis is given to the contribution of and additional risk to BAME carers working within the health sector,” the Twins emphasised.

They added: “The main focus of the composition is an Asian nurse depicted as a modern day St George, riding a horse, with lance in hand and bat­tling with a Covid-19 virus dragon on the edge of the White cliffs of Dover.

“Her recycled bin bag apron, visibly cracked visor, tiny shield – inscribed with the Celtic knot of protec­tion and the words ‘too little too late’ – and single glove, symbolise the plight of frontline healthcare workers whose lives and those of their patients have been put at risk due to an inadequate supply of PPE (personal protection equipment).

“An aeroplane bearing the name Pandemic Air­ways flies head on into the central composition. This, together with a banner promoting a public outdoor international sporting event, represent what many regard as the reckless incompetence of a government which failed to heed scientific opinion and act swiftly enough in the early weeks of the out­break – missing a key window of opportunity to control the onslaught of the virus in UK through quarantine, testing and social isolation measures.”

Talking about their artwork, the Twins said: “Is­sues around politics, culture and identity have al­ways been central to our work as artists. So, in ad­dition to creating a tribute to the NHS and wider health care sector, we wanted this artwork to reflect what the Covid-19 crisis has revealed about our society. Something reinforced, in particular, is the invaluable contribution of BAME and immigrant communities to Brit­ain. And, in fact, as our Covid-19 artwork shows, that has always been the case.”

As is invariably the case with the Twins, the devil, as far as the authorities are concerned, lies in the detail. Prime minister Boris Johnson is shown straddling the horse just be­hind the nurse, thrusting a knife into her back, while pulling on the horse’s reins. His prede­cessor, Theresa May, is shown in front of Big Ben, brandish­ing a “Brexit Sale” sign, while a pay rise for nurses is voted down in Parliament.

According to the Twins, such symbolism “point to the hypocrisy of a government which claps for the NHS in public, but whose policy and attitude towards public sector emergency services over the years has hindered and caused injury to the NHS.

“Elsewhere, the depiction of a lamb impaled by the portcullis – symbol of Parliament – rep­resents the similar predica­ment of care home work­ers, one of whom told the press they felt like ‘lambs to the slaughter’ without proper access to PPE.”

“Given their resolve to care for and protect the people of Britain from the virus pan­demic despite the personal danger and lack of government support”, the artists “present our healthcare workers in the same way the Saints of old were regarded – namely, as ordinary people who achieved extraordinary things.

“The hand used by the nurse to strike the Covid-19 dragon, is decorated with henna pat­terns traditionally associated with married life in India.”

The Twins explain they see their role as social, political commentators. Their first re­sponse to the Covid-19 crisis was a personal portrait cre­ated as a tribute to a friend, a frontline healthcare worker, who died from the virus.

Their anger over what they describe as unneces­sary loss motivated them to create this second work, NHS V Covid-19-19: Fighting on Two Fronts. The artwork which combines hand-painted and digital im­agery using creative software tools, took weeks to create and then film for their ap­pearance as guest artists in the last episode of Channel 4’s Grayson’s Art Club on June 1. The Twins summed up: “Depicting St George as an Asian fig­ure challenges narrow perceptions of British and Englishness.”

More For You

Cardi B shocks Paris Couture Week with live crow and bold Schiaparelli look

Cardi B poses with a live crow outside the Petit Palais in Paris

Instagram/lamodemagazine__

Cardi B shocks Paris Couture Week with live crow and bold Schiaparelli look

Quick highlights:

  • Cardi B appeared at Schiaparelli’s Autumn 2025 couture show in Paris holding a live crow on her arm.
  • Her dramatic black gown was designed by Daniel Roseberry, Schiaparelli’s creative director.
  • The surreal look paid tribute to Elsa Schiaparelli’s legacy of theatrical, boundary-pushing fashion.
  • The show marked a shift in Roseberry’s aesthetic, away from corsetry towards freer silhouettes.

Paris Couture Week opened on a dramatic note this year as Cardi B made a startling entrance at the Petit Palais wearing a black Schiaparelli gown, with a live crow perched on her arm. The rapper’s appearance outside the venue sent photographers scrambling as the bird flapped and squawked, setting the tone for a show rooted in tension, elegance, and surrealism.

The outfit, crafted by Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli’s Autumn 2025 collection, featured graphic fringe and a towering beaded neckline. But it was the crow, alive, glaring, and restless, that stole the spotlight, embodying the fashion house’s long-standing obsession with the unexpected.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor joins growing criticism of Prada’s uncredited use of Indian design

Getty Images

Kareena Kapoor mocks Prada with her ‘OG Kolhapuri’ post as fashion giant faces backlash over copied design

Quick highlights:

  • Kareena Kapoor posted a cheeky Instagram Story flaunting Kolhapuri chappals, saying, “Sorry not Prada... but my OG Kolhapuri.”
  • Her post follows outrage over Prada’s ‘toe-ring sandals’ resembling the Indian Kolhapuri design.
  • A PIL has been filed in the Bombay High Court against Prada for unauthorised use of the Kolhapuri style without credit.
  • Prada acknowledged the inspiration and agreed to meet Indian artisans for dialogue.

Kareena Kapoor took a subtle yet sharp swipe at luxury fashion label Prada amid growing controversy around its recently launched ‘toe-ring sandals’, a design that closely mirrors India’s traditional Kolhapuri chappals. Without naming the brand, Kareena shared a photo of her feet in silver Kolhapuri slippers during her London vacation and captioned it: “Sorry not Prada... but my OG Kolhapuri ❤️.”

The actor’s post struck a chord with many online, surfacing just days after Prada came under fire for allegedly copying the Kolhapuri design without acknowledgment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Monica Barbaro and Andrew Garfield  at Wimbledon

Garfield and Barbaro twin in Ralph Lauren for their most public appearance yet

Instagram/voguemagazine

Monica Barbaro and Andrew Garfield quietly confirm relationship with Wimbledon appearance

Quick highlights:

  • Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro stepped out in matching Ralph Lauren looks at Wimbledon 2025.
  • The couple shared affectionate moments courtside, including hand-holding and a cheek kiss.
  • They were first linked romantically in February after being spotted at a London play.
  • The pair may reunite on screen in Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming film Artificial.

Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro made their most public appearance yet as a couple on Sunday, arriving hand-in-hand at Wimbledon 2025 in coordinated white ensembles and sharing subtle yet sweet moments of affection. The actors, who were first rumoured to be dating in February, looked completely in sync as they entered the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on 6 July. Dressed in matching Ralph Lauren outfits, the two smiled for cameras and appeared relaxed throughout the day.

  Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro arrive hand in hand at Wimbledon in all whiteInstagram/voguemagazine

Keep ReadingShow less
Kantara Chapter

Rishab Shetty battles through flames in new Kantara Chapter 1 poster

‘Kantara Chapter 1’ poster released on Rishab Shetty’s birthday, confirms October 2025 theatrical date

Quick highlights:

  • Kantara: Chapter 1, the much-awaited prequel to the 2022 blockbuster, releases in cinemas on 2 October 2025.
  • Poster unveiled on Rishab Shetty’s 42nd birthday shows him in an intense warrior avatar.
  • The film explores the divine origins of Panjurli and Guliga, expanding the Kantara mythology.
  • Massive action sequences filmed with 3,000 participants over 50 days make it one of India’s biggest productions.

Rishab Shetty gave fans a fierce first glimpse into Kantara: Chapter 1 on his 42nd birthday, unveiling a new poster that shows him in full warrior mode. The upcoming prequel to the 2022 Kannada hit Kantara is now officially set to release on 2 October 2025. Directed and headlined once again by Shetty, the film is expected to dive deep into the spiritual and mythological roots of the original story.

   Kantara Chapter 1 poster  Instagram/rishabshettyofficial  

Keep ReadingShow less
Zayn Malik

Zayn Malik shares a moody preview of his upcoming song Fuchsia Sea

Getty Images

Zayn Malik raps about racism he experienced as Asian member of One Direction in "Fuchsia Sea"

Quick highlights:

  • Zayn Malik previewed a new track, Fuchsia Sea, on Instagram, touching on racism he experienced during his One Direction years.
  • “They still laughed at the Asian,” he raps, alluding to feeling othered despite success.
  • Malik was the only South Asian member of the band, which included Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and the late Liam Payne.
  • The track marks a rare public reflection on the racial dynamics behind his 2015 departure from the group.

Zayn Malik is turning to music to process the discrimination he says he experienced during his time with One Direction. On Saturday, 5 July, the 32-year-old singer previewed a raw and emotional rap song titled Fuchsia Sea, sharing a clip and lyrics on Instagram that many fans believe directly address racism he faced as the only South Asian member of the global boy band.

In the verse, Malik raps: “I worked hard in a White band, and they still laughed at the Asian.” The line immediately sparked intense conversation online, with listeners pointing out how it echoed long-suspected tensions about racial identity and representation during his tenure in One Direction.

Keep ReadingShow less