Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, alongside award-winning artist and Spider-Man enthusiast Hetain Patel and Artangel, is delighted to present Come As You Really Are ꞁ Swansea Open 2025.

This exciting exhibition will run from 15 February – 27 April, showcasing unique hand-crafted objects, with contributions from hobbyists including collectors, costume and cosplay makers, painters, crocheters and knitters, model makers, robotics engineers, origami specialists and many more.

The exhibition will be curated by artist Hetain Patel with Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and input from the gallery’s learning community groups. Hetain Patel has devised the nationwide project Come As You Really Are with Artangel, which is made up of 13 regional presentations across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales from Summer 2024 – 2026.

Hetain Patel also presents work as part of the exhibition. A new film by Patel, co-commissioned by Artangel and partners, which explores the outstanding creativity and passion that people put into their hobbies will be on display in Room 3, alongside a selection of objects featured within it.

The film adopts the artist’s trademark style of combining high-end cinematic production with scenes from the everyday, to showcase ephemeral pastimes and handcrafted objects in a visual language usually reserved for Hollywood films and luxury advertising.

Also featured in the exhibition are rarely presented objects from the Glynn Vivian’s permanent collection including miniature portraits by Thyrza Anne Leyshon and pug dog snuff boxes collected by the gallery’s founder, Richard Glynn Vivian.

Hetain Patel said:

“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.”

Karen MacKinnon, Curator, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, added:

“We’re delighted to be a part of this nationwide project celebrating the hobbies of the nation. It’s such a unique and inspiring project, which celebrates the wonderful things that people make!”

There will be a public programme alongside the exhibition, including talks, events, performances and workshops, running from February - April 2025. Visit www.glynnvivian.co.uk for further information on the programme.

Commissioned and Produced by Artangel. In partnership with Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea; Factory International, Manchester; Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool; Museum of Making, Derby Museums Trust; National Festival of Making with Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery; Wolverhampton Art Gallery; Barnsley Civic; 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. With thanks to Creative Lives.