An exhibition featuring thousands of objects created, modified, and collected by hobbyists across the UK
The most ambitious exhibition ever presented about the UK’s hobbies opens in London, Thursday 18 July 2024, celebrating people who dedicate their spare time to making, modifying and collecting. Come As You Really Are is presented by award-winning artist and Spider-Man enthusiast Hetain Patel and commissioned by arts organisation Artangel. It serves as a contemporary portrait of the UK as seen through the lens of the nation’s hobbies. The inaugural exhibition is presented in Croydon, followed by presentations at partner venues across the UK throughout 2025.
The project began with a nationwide call-out inviting members of the public to share the activity to which they dedicate their spare time. Over 1500 responses form the basis of the exhibition, which features familiar pastimes such as arts and crafts, knitting, Lego creations, Warhammer figurines, football shirt collecting, car modification and miniature model making, alongside lesser-known hobbies, including doll customisation, micro-ceramics, chainmail jewellery, making 19th century banjos, and firelighters handmade from citrus peels.
The exhibition features thousands of unique hand-crafted objects loaned by hundreds of people of all ages, backgrounds and professions from across the UK. The project demonstrates how individuals express themselves and assert agency through the activities they pursue and the things they make and collect. Some people started hobbies during lockdown, whilst others have been doing their hobbies for decades. Many find they offer a moment of escapism and provide an outlet from studying, work or caring duties, while for some they are a means of connecting with others and finding a sense of purpose.
At the heart of the project is a new film by Patel, which elevates the outstanding creativity and passion that people put into their hobbies. The film adopts the artist’s trademark approach of combining high-end cinematic production with scenes from the everyday to showcase ephemeral pastimes, such as wild swimming, alongside handcrafted objects in a style usually reserved for Hollywood films and luxury advertising. Also featured are three Spider-Man outfits made by the artist, including a three-piece suit, and a modified car. Fiesta Transformer (2013) is a modification of Patel’s first car, which he turned into a robot with the help of his father in their family garage in Bolton.
On 3 and 10 August, a series of events will take place designed to explore the extensive range of hobbies that exist across the UK with hands-on, hobbyist-led workshops, talks, and drop-in sessions for all ages. All events will take place at locations within walking distance of the exhibition. Full details and booking information available on the Artangel website.
Come As You Really Are is an exhibition that showcases an individual's freedom of expression and ingenuity, and in doing so broadens our perception of who gets to be called creative and where the impulse to create stems from. At the heart of this project is a nationwide community of people whose labours of love are a lens through which the artist presents an alternative portrait of the UK.
Listings Information:
Come As You Really Are: 18 July – 20 October 2024
Grants Building, 14-32 High Street, Croydon, CR0 1GT
Further Information: Come As You Really Are | Artangel
Tickets: Select tickets – Come As You Really Are – The Hobby Cave (tickettailor.com)