New art gallery to spotlight South Asian artists

A new art gallery spotlighting artwork by artists from the South Asian diaspora is to open to the public this week.

The Runjeet Singh Gallery is holding an opening weekend at its premises on Chandos Street, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, starting from Friday until Sunday.

Organisers said the gallery would provide a platform for UK-based South Asian artists as well as other ones, whose practices were inspired by South Asian history, traditions and cultures.

Founder and art curator Runjeet Singh, who has exhibited internationally, said he was "incredibly proud" to open the gallery in his hometown.

The site, which has space for works ranging from large sculptures to Indian miniature paintings, will deliver a rotating programme of exhibitions over time and has been adapted to accommodate both group and solo shows.

The Midlands was a region with a cultural identity that had been "shaped by South Asian communities", organisers added, with the gallery aiming to celebrate the relationship between South Asian and British culture in the UK.

Paintings and a range of works from eight local and national artists are set to feature across the gallery's opening exhibition, including Amrit Singh Sandhu, Simran Kaur Panesar and Rati Devi Sivyer.

Singh, who is also an expert on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow, said he had worked in the art industry for the past 12 years and had previously exhibited in cities such as London, New York, Paris and Mumbai.

"But this is a particularly special moment, opening a gallery in my own hometown and shining a spotlight on our wonderful spa town, and its creative and artistic spirit, makes me incredibly proud," he added.

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