Kanwar Singh <\/strong>(Image above)<\/p>\n

Created by\u00a0British photographers Amit and Naroop <\/strong>in their studio over a period of one year, the\u00a0Singh Project<\/strong> is a celebration of the most powerful and obvious symbols of the identity of a Sikh man – A\u00a0Turban and a\u00a0Beard!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the Sikh culture, the turban (also knows as\u00a0Dastaar)\u00a0<\/em>is an article of faith that represents honour, self-respect, courage, spirituality, and piety, while the\u00a0beard is considered to be part of the nobility and dignity of their manhood. The word Singh <\/em>(derived from\u00a0Sanskrit word\u00a0Sinha<\/i> meaning lion)\u00a0<\/em>is\u00a0a mandatory\u00a0last name for all baptized male Sikhs since 1699, regardless of their geographical or cultural binding.<\/p>\n

The photography series features 35 creative portraits of British Sikh men from different walks of life.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany religions determine the way their followers look, but none have such a dramatic and definite \u2018look\u2019 as Sikhism. And yet, with 30 million Sikhs in the world, there are almost as many ways to wear the turban and beard as there are Sikhs” explains the creative photographer duo Amit and Naroop. <\/em><\/p>\n

“The men who feature in this project are businessmen, boxers, IT professionals, doctors, fashion stylists, temple volunteers, magicians and a host of other occupations all adapting and interpreting the Sikh traditions in their own way.”<\/p>\n

Historically, Sikh men were victims of racism and oppression because of their turbans and beards. The photographs not only highlights the openness in today’s modern, multicultural\u00a0Britain, but also represents the turban and the beard as\u00a0symbols of revolution, non-conformity and style.<\/p>\n

The Singh Project<\/strong> will be\u00a0exhibited at The Framers Gallery in London from 3rd – 15th November 2014.<\/p>\n

Watch the ‘Making of the Project’ video below:<\/p>\n