visual arts

Description

Hetain Patel is a new artist on the performing arts scene. Having originally trained in the visual arts, he has exhibited his work widely in the UK and internationally and was awarded the title of Nottingham Creative Business of the year 2008, and shortlisted for the Satyajit Ray Short Film Award. Patel's rapidly increasing profile stems from his multifaceted work interrogating language and cultural identity. With work encompassing video, sound, live art, performance and dance, he is always open to working outside of his comfort zone. The struggle to place his identity between two very different cultures is also drawn out in TEN, his first performance piece embracing theatre, live art and dance alongside two performers, one from Scotland and the other with Barbadian parentage. Taking music and the Indian 10-beat rhythm cycle as a starting point, this performance delves with endearing honesty and humour into the usually dry questions of cultural identity. TEN looks at the meeting place between the red dot on the Hindu forehead and the red cross on the English flag. The spoken text, strong physical movement and musical talent of his co-collaborators shine through as the use of red Kanku powder, Indian rhythms and strong lighting bring a culturally specific and visually arresting quality to the work. TEN is a subtle but thought provoking piece which brings a fresh approach to the cultural identity debate, looking at our multiple and overlapping identities in Britain today and asking what is behind this need to belong? Patel represents the younger generation of British Asian artist and has a strong body of work in other disciplines which may appeal to promoters. Produced by Dance4. Commissioned by Dance4 and New Art Exchange. Supported by Lakeside Arts Centre and the National Lottery through Arts Council England. 'Intelligent, thoughtful, humorous and hypnotic' Dancing Times 'Skilled precision' The Guardian www.britishcouncil.org/edinburghshowcase Image © Oliver Dalby, Julie Perry