Hetain Patel

Hetain Patel is a visual artist who uses language, communication and the human body to show his work.

The inspiration for Kanku Raga, his Biennale piece, is Anglo-Indian identity and Indian classical music and dance.

'It's based on a repeating 16 beat rhythm cycle called tin taal,' explains Hetain. 'Tabla drums form a big part of my life and art practice.

'It is said that to train in Indian classical music is to gain an insight into Indian thought and mindset. Indian musical composition is very different to Western musical composition and so learning it from a British born perspective is difficult. To me the process feels like I'm taking lessons in being Indian.'

In 2006, Hetain's work sold in a Bonhams' auction in London alongside artists including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, and again in 2007 in a Sotheby's auction in New York.