U.K. artist Hetain Patel always had a flair for art and mechanics, and was inspired to create his own Transformer just like the in Transformers movie series.
Patel’s father granted him a 1988 Ford Fiesta when he was 17, allowing Patel to have his “first taste of independence,” he explained during his with TEDGlobal talk. He decided to work with the well-loved vehicle because for him, the car represents working-class Britain.
Patel's car before the transformation
The Transformer statue was designed in a squatting position, asserting Patel’s social and cultural connotations. He stated, “this posture is a recurring image in my work and forges a link between the lower classes in India and my immigrant family in the U.K., both of whom sit comfortably that way. Drawing inspiration from the Transformers movie series, Patel explicates that transforming robots could be viewed as the frequently overlooked talented outcast, who starts from the bottom and rises to the top as a “robot in disguise.”
Patel’s hard work was recorded on video throughout the creation process of the Transformer. Patel and his father maximized their team efforts to finish the project in the span of six months. In the clip, the father and son completely dissembled the car’s autobody, and then reassembled the parts to form an Autobot.
It was to Patel’s benefit that his father had extensive knowledge in the field of mechanics. By trade, Patel senior specializes in converting cars into hearses and hones his mechanical expertise. Without experience in mechanics, this project would have been an impossible undertaking for Patel.
Patel’s work combines technology and art, complete with a social message. During his TEDGlobal performance, Patel stated that his art “is about identity and leverage,” and how it shifts in each era to fit societal changes.
Story via Huffington Post, cNet
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