Plastic Dreams, 2021 Sculpture

Fascinated by Hollywood’s power to influence global culture through the merchandising of their film characters, Patel has created a series of action figures based on his trilogy of films - The Jump (2015), Don't Look at the Finger (2017), and Trinity (2021). Proposing alternatives to the white normative bodies that dominate the toy industry, Patel’s figures are designed to become irresistible avatars for children and adults to project themselves into, regardless of their race, gender or body type.

The figures pictured were first shown as part of touring solo show Trinity, John Hansard Gallery, Southampton (2021), and New Art Exchange, Nottingham (2022) Photos by Tom Morley at New Art Exchange, and Thierry Bal at John Hansard Gallery.