Hetain Patel’s hobby heaven

I’m sure most people have collected something at some point in their lives: I used to collect badges and keyrings; Angela, Beanie Babies; my parents, teapots… Why am I telling you this? Well a new exhibition has opened in the heart of Croydon that celebrates the nation’s hobbies – not only what people collect (although this forms a large part of it), but also what people make and modify in their spare time, and it’s simply fascinating. Fascinating, because on one hand, the theme feels very relatable, but on the other, completely off the wall…

The exhibition ‘Come As You Really Are’, is the brainchild of London-based artist Hetain Patel, and commissioned by art organisation Artangel. It is billed as ‘the most ambitious exhibition ever presented about the UK’s hobbies’ and it’s situated right in the middle of our town centre, in Grants, in the space where the Milan Bar used to be.

My Little Pony collection by Miranda Worby in Come As You Really Are by Hetain Patel and Artangel. Photograph by Thierry Bal

A cross between a PunchDrunk venue and an eclectic antiques shop, the exhibition is packed to the rafters with people’s creations and memorabilia. Eclectic to the max, you may see a gang of Barbie’s Kens interacting with some miniature soldier figurines, a whole room of My Little Ponies, or Spider Man sitting amongst a colour-sorted collection of plastic bags.

The project has been a while in the making – at the beginning of the year Patel invited people from across the UK to share information and stories about their hobbies. Over 1500 submissions form the basis of ‘Come As You Really Are’ which features every type of pastime, from the more familiar arts and crafts and the nostalgic collections, to the somewhat quirky customisations of dolls, cars, jewellery, furniture – well, you name it, really.

Patel, who is also a Spider Man fan, presents some key artworks in the exhibition: three Spider Man outfits he has made, two modified cars and a new film that showcases the creativity and dedication that people put into their hobbies.

Patel says of the exhibition: ‘There is a vulnerability in sharing something so personal, which often happens in private spaces around the responsibilities of daily life. But there is also a tremendous power in sharing collectively, which is at the heart of this project. I hope people join us in this celebration of the unstoppable nature of self-expression that is demonstrated by our hobbies.’

Come As You Really Are by Hetain Patel and Artangel. Photograph by Thierry Bal

What I particularly love about the exhibition (apart from it appealing to my nosy side) is the juxtaposition of the old (and vast) interior of the Milan Bar with the objects themselves – from toy collections lined up on the shelves where bottles of booze once sat still with the old price signs in tact, to the bar itself becoming a plain for figurines to play, every nook has been utilised to its advantage.

Hetain Patel’s Fiesta Transformer (2013), alongside one of his three exhibited Spider Man outfits, and objects from other hobbyists

Patel’s two car artworks both provide an extra wow factor to the exhibition, especially how they are curated within the space alongside the other objects. Fiesta Transformer (2013) is a modification of Patel’s first car, turned into a robot with the help of his father in their family garage in Bolton. The transformer stands guard over an army of toy cars and robots with a Spider Man mannequin mimicking the transformer’s pose crouched to its side.

The second car, called Somerset Road (2024) is a Ford Escort totally covered in a hand-tufted patterned rug, which Patel modelled on his grandmother’s carpet. This sits in a vast warehouse space behind the bar’s interior and is flanked by an assortment of quilts and carpets from various hobbyists.

Left: close-up of Hetain Patel’s Somerset Road (2024). Right: one of three of Hetain Patel’s exhibited Spider Man outfits.

The exhibition space has been retitled the Hobby Cave, which gives it an aptly superhero-esque vibe, considering the artist’s penchant for Spider Man. It is a true treasure trove of ordinary people’s extraordinary passions and is a joy to walk around. I guarantee once you’ve visited you’ll want to return, as I think you’ll spot something different to spark your curiosity every time – it’s hobby heaven!

The project also continues on after the exhibition in Croydon, with a tour around the country into 2025 and 2026 – the public can still submit details about their hobbies for inclusion in future iterations of the project via thehobbycave.org.uk

Portrait of Hetain Patel in Come As You Really Are. Photograph by Thierry Bal.

‘Come As You Really Are’ is free to attend but you need to book an advance ticket here.

The exhibition is situated in the old Milan Bar, Grants Building, 14-32 High Street, Croydon, CR0 1GT, until 20 October 2024, Wednesday – Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-4pm.

Find out more on the Artangel website and follow Hetain Patel and Artangel on Instagram.