Come As You Really Are - An Exhibition at The Hobby Cave, Croydon - by Erica
We visited the 'Come As You Really Are' exhibition in central Croydon this afternoon, (9th August 2024). It is an exhibition by artist Hetain Patel exploring the fascinating topic of what people choose to do as a hobby in their own spare time, that precious personal time between the demands of work, family and general life. What do we do in those hours that are purely ours? How does our spirit choose to express itself - its true self, when it has the time to do so? Some people curate collections, some people make art, some people hone skills ( and yes - touching on all three of these - some people quilt!).
The exhibition is an eclectic collection of items from across the country which aims to show the diverse range of hobbies that people have. There are textiles (including quilts (approx 12), costumes, crochet) mosaics, woodwork and more. There are also several collections on display. Collections of items that would seem mundane on their own but are fascinating and almost high art when in a group - think cigarette packs and bags for life. I found it joyous and inspiring. Viewing the collections on display was even a tad nostalgic at times. I felt that the exhibition celebrated the hobbyist and gave value and respect to the items that we might otherwise dismiss as 'just a hobby'. These pieces are more than a hobby, they give us a glimpse into who the artist is as an individual, perhaps more so than asking 'so what do you do for work?' as we so often do. I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition and would recommend a visit if you are in town. I would have liked more information about the items on the display, there was none available, but perhaps forming my own narrative was more fun.
As for the quilts, I really liked a covid-19/ lockdown themed quilt for its accurate portrayal of that unique point in time, but there was also a stunner of a 'blazing star' quilt and also a child's quilt which included applique robots, tiger print and teddy fur - it was a riot of colour and texture and I can see it being a much loved item of a child somewhere! And an excellent reminded that perfect points and colour coordination really aren't everything.' Come As You Really Are' is in The Hobby Cave, Croydon CR0 1GT, in the Grants building (just up from the Croydon Post Office). It is running until the 20th of October and is open Wednesday- Sunday 10am-5 or 6pm depending on the day. Entry is free. They allocate space for drop-ins but ask that you book via their website if possible (we had no trouble as a drop-in). See their website for location and booking details, plus a more detailed description.