HETAIN PATEL - BAA’S HOUSE 11
Manifesting in heroic scale a figure often overlooked by media and advertising, Hetain Patel broadcasts ‘Baa’s House 11’ a poignant new commission for CIRCA showcasing a first-generation immigrant matriarch towering over the streets of London, Milan, New York, Seoul and Tokyo throughout November. Our documentary follows this story.
Presented in collaboration with The Film London Jarman Award, ‘Baa’s House 11’ embodies the spirit of iconoclastic filmmaker and polemical gay activist Derek Jarman. Influenced by his legacy of challenging perceptions, giving a voice to marginalised communities and pushing creative practices forward, The Mayor of London has supported Patel in creating a special trompe-l’oeil 3D experience exclusively for Piccadilly Lights, as part of their ‘Let’s Do London’ campaign.
Exploring themes of immigration and identity on a global stage, ‘Baa’s House 11’ pays homage to Patel’s grandmother, performed by Indian Kathak dancer, Vina Ladwa. Co-opting billboard spaces in five major cities, Patel shows his grandmother looking out from the screen, empowered in everyday labour, whilst surveying passers by watching below. Typically under-represented in such spaces of mass media and advertising, the matriarch challenges audiences around the world to confront the power of such torchbearers of cultural heritage within the migrant community.