Hetain Patel's 'Trinity' Exhibition at John Hansard Gallery Explores Identity Through Martial Arts Films

The John Hansard Gallery in Southampton is showcasing Hetain Patel's exhibition 'Trinity,' featuring a trilogy of films that fuse martial arts cinema with explorations of identity and cultural hybridity. Running from 3 August to 30 October 2021, the exhibition includes 'The Jump' (2015), a two-channel video where Patel, in a Spider-Man costume, executes a slow-motion jump in his grandmother's living room, observed by relatives in traditional Indian attire. 'Don't Look at the Finger' (2015) presents a silent, choreographed fight among Black actors in West African-inspired clothing, examining power dynamics through movement. The latest piece, 'Trinity' (2021), depicts a British Indian woman, played by dancer Vidya Patel, who interacts with a deaf mechanic, Raffie Julien, as they communicate through sign language and martial arts. The exhibition features a cinema-like atmosphere and an artist-curated gift shop with clothing and action figures, highlighting issues of representation for marginalized communities and linking to mainstream films like 'Black Panther' (2018). This trilogy was commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella in collaboration with Manchester Art Gallery and QUAD, with support from the Jerwood Choreographic Research Fund.