From makers and modifiers to crafters and collectors, members of the public are invited to take part in Come As You Really Are, the largest ever exhibition of the UK’s most enduring pastimes.
Barnsley Civic are working alongside Artangel and award-winning artist and Spider-Man enthusiast Hetain Patel to invite the people of Barnsley, Yorkshire and the wider region to share details of their hobbies and participate in a large exhibition that will take place at Barnsley Civic.
Hundreds of unique hand-crafted objects loaned by local people will go on display throughout Barnsley Civic, in the main public areas and some parts of the building that haven’t been open to the public in over 25 years, with contributions invited from hobbyists of any discipline; such as costume and cosplay makers, crocheters and knitters, wood carvers and model makers, ceramicists, robotics engineers, origami specialists, augmented car enthusiasts and many more.
The exhibition will open on May 25th and will include a new film by Patel which explores the outstanding creativity and passion that people put into their hobbies. Barnsley Civic will also be hosting events, talks and workshops relating to hobbies and crafts which will run alongside the exhibition.
Come as You Really Are is commissioned by arts organisation Artangel and celebrates the millions of people across the UK who dedicate their spare time to activities they are passionate about. It explores how individuals express their identity, character and creativity through their favourite pastimes.
Hetain Patel is an award-winning British-Gujarati artist and filmmaker. Much of his practice is derived from his childhood hobbies and interests, including his lifelong passion for Spider-Man. In 2013, the artist created his first sculpture when he converted his first car, a Ford Fiesta, into a real-life Transformer with the help of his father. Come As You Really Are is Patel’s most ambitious and far-reaching project to date.
Hetain Patel says: “I’ve always been obsessed by handmade things. Growing up in Bolton, in a working class culturally Indian household, we ate with our hands, and many of my relatives worked as part of the manual labour force in local factories. The empowering thing about hobbies is choice, and doing something on our own terms. The creative act is really hopeful, with huge benefits to us individually and something that connects us to others regardless of our differences.”
Barnsley Civic Chief Executive and Artistic Director Dr. Dan Winder says:
“As a fellow Boltonian, I share some of Hetain’s cultural beginnings. Across the north of England our cities and towns are full of people with hidden private passions. This wonderful exhibition, and the wider programme of events, will bring to light the extraordinary range of hobbies and personal acts of creativity that illustrate our unique individuality and our collective humanity.”
National partners include; Factory International, Manchester; Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea; Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool; Museum of Making, Derby Museums Trust; National Festival of Making with Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery; Wolverhampton Art Gallery; Inverness Museum and Art Gallery; Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland; CCA Derry~Londonderry; Hospitalfield, Arbroath and Tate St Ives.
Supported by Artangel’s Guardian Angels.
The public can submit details about their hobbies here: comeasyoureallyare.org.uk
Submission deadline: 18th March, 2025
