Hetain Patel: Come As You Really Are

Explore the playful worlds of Greater Manchester’s hobbyists, makers and collectors in this free exhibition by Hetain Patel and Artangel.

What links Star Wars stormtroopers and Polish film posters? A momentous collection of Spice Girls memorabilia and light-up jellyfish? Miniatures, model railways and the Muppets?

Every day, millions of us dedicate time to our favourite hobbies – and Greater Manchester is no exception. From foraging to clowning, larping to skating and swimming to singing, our region is filled with people who have a passion. Come As You Really Are brings together thousands of objects to tell their stories in an interactive, family-friendly exhibition.

Come As You Really Are is a nationwide project by Artangel and artist Hetain Patel , who has presented objects from hobbyists in galleries and museums across the UK with a network of partners. Now he brings the project to a close here at Aviva Studios with one of his largest presentations yet.