Who am I? Think again | Hetain Patel

Summary

In this engaging script, artist Hetain Patel and dancer Yuyu Rau explore the themes of identity, language, and the power of imitation. Patel humorously recounts his childhood reluctance to wear traditional Indian clothing and his journey to understand his cultural heritage by imitating his father's appearance and learning Mandarin. Through the lens of Bruce Lee's philosophy, they challenge assumptions and reflect on how copying others can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself. The narrative is infused with humor and personal anecdotes, illustrating the creative process of finding authenticity in unexpected forms.

Takeaways

• 🎭 Hetain Patel is an artist who collaborates with dancer Yuyu Rau, using her as a translator for his speech in Chinese.
• 🗣️ Patel's decision to speak Chinese is to challenge assumptions based on accents and to avoid stereotypes associated with his northern English accent.
• 😅 Patel humorously admits that his Mandarin is limited to a single paragraph learned by heart, which he repeats in various tones.
• 🙇‍♂️ An apology is extended to Mandarin speakers for any offense caused by his limited language skills.
• 👦 Patel's childhood disdain for wearing Indian kurta pajamas due to feeling they were uncool and too feminine.
• 👊 His comfort in wearing the kurta pajamas comes from imagining them as kung fu robes, inspired by the character Li Mu Bai from 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'.
• 🧐 Patel's artwork focuses on identity and language, questioning the assumptions people make about others based on appearance and background.
• 🕺 Bruce Lee's philosophy influences Patel, particularly the idea of being 'formless, shapeless, like water', which Patel applies to identity and imitation.
• 🎭 Patel's imitation of his father's appearance, including hairstyle and mustache, led to mixed reactions and humorous misunderstandings.
• 🤔 The realization that imitation, even when flawed, can lead to a deeper understanding of one's own identity and authenticity.
• 🕷️ A surprising revelation that Patel's sitting posture was influenced by Spider-Man, not his Indian heritage, highlighting the unexpected sources of identity formation.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Hetain Patel's artwork?

Hetain Patel's artwork is about identity and language, challenging common assumptions based on appearance, origin, gender, race, and class.

Why did Hetain Patel choose to speak in Chinese Mandarin during his presentation?

Hetain Patel chose to speak in Chinese Mandarin to avoid any assumptions that might be made from his northern English accent and to demonstrate the idea of imitating and learning from others.

What does Yuyu Rau do in the context of this presentation?

Yuyu Rau serves as a translator for Hetain Patel, helping him communicate in Chinese Mandarin during the presentation.

Why did Hetain Patel apologize to Mandarin speakers in the audience?

Hetain Patel apologized because he could only speak a limited paragraph in Mandarin, which he learned by heart during a visit to China, and he was concerned about repeating it in different tones without fully understanding the language.

What was Hetain Patel's childhood aversion to wearing Indian kurta pajama?

Hetain Patel disliked wearing the Indian kurta pajama as a child because he thought it was uncool and felt girly, with the baggy trouser part being uncomfortable and potentially embarrassing.

How does Hetain Patel relate the concept of imitating to his personal life?

Hetain Patel relates the concept of imitating to his personal life by discussing how he imitated his father's appearance and Bruce Lee's philosophy, which in turn helped him discover and express his own identity.

What is the significance of the water analogy used by Bruce Lee?

The water analogy by Bruce Lee signifies the idea of adaptability and fluidity, suggesting that one should be able to change and conform to different situations while retaining their essence.

What was the outcome of Hetain Patel's attempt to grow his hair and mustache like his father's?

Hetain Patel's attempt to grow his hair and mustache like his father's resulted in an overgrown mustache that made him look less Indian and more like a character from a different cultural background, leading to humorous misunderstandings.

Why did Hetain Patel learn a phrase in Chinese Mandarin by heart?

Hetain Patel learned a phrase in Chinese Mandarin by heart to overcome the frustration of not being able to speak the language during his time in China, and to pretend that he could speak Chinese fluently.

What was the humorous revelation about Hetain Patel's Mandarin pronunciation?

The humorous revelation was that Hetain Patel had learned and memorized the Mandarin phrase in a woman's voice, which was pointed out by an artist after he had spoken the phrase aloud.

How does Hetain Patel view the process of imitation in his art?

Hetain Patel views the process of imitation as a way to reveal something unique about oneself. Even when the imitation does not go as planned, it contributes to the authenticity and self-discovery in his art.

What did Hetain Patel learn about his sitting posture from Spider-Man?

Hetain Patel discovered that his sitting posture was not a cultural trait inherited from being Indian, but rather a posture he had learned and adopted from Spider-Man comics.