HETAIN PATEL

To Dance Like Your Dad

 

Commissioned by New Art Exchange and supported by Arts Council England

 

Dates: Sat 26 September - Sat 31 October 2009

Private View: Fri 25 September, 6 - 9pm

Exhibition opening times: Monday to Friday 10am - 7pm and Saturday 10am - 5pm

Admission: Free

 

This autumn sees Hetain Patel’s latest work ‘To Dance Like Your Dad’ debut at New Art Exchange, on Friday 25th September. This piece commissioned by New Art Exchange, and produced in association with nottdance09, looks at Hetain’s attempt to understand an Indian mindset.

An exploration of visual, spoken, and movement languages in Hetain Patel’s work is key to his investigations into Identity. In this new video installation he plays with the idea of cultural assimilation through imitation. Being British born he looks at the possibility of trying to understand an Indian mindset, or at least the mindset of the Indian immigrants that make up his immediate legacy.

 

Developed from a recent photographic series in which Patel documented members of his family, this work sees the artist stepping into his father’s shoes, imitating his words, gestures and mannerisms. Patel takes the movements from his father’s work place into his own working environment - a studio. Developed in parallel with his new live work TEN, this piece requires a very specific choreography- a duet between performer and cameraman.

 

 

Following international performances, exhibitions and residencies over the past six months in China, India and Romania, Hetain was recently short-listed for the Arts Council’s special ‘Artists Taking The Lead’ commission in the East Midlands region.

 

Artists taking the lead is part of London 2012's Cultural Olympiad and challenged artists across the UK to submit ideas for works of art to celebrate 2012. One winner from this shortlist of five in the region will deliver their project to a budget of £500,000. It is being delivered and funded by the Arts Councils of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and will result in twelve commissions, one in each of the English regions and one in each of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

 

This piece takes place during nottdance09 [Dance4] in conjunction with Patel's live art performance at Lakeside Arts Centre on Sunday 25th October 2009.

 

Images by Hetain Patel, Bartosz Kali