Renowned artist unveils new installation at Tottenham site

Topic People, Community

Date 11 May 2021

A new art installation by renowned British-Nigerian artist Yinka Illori has been revealed at the Heart of Hale site Galliford Try is constructing for Argent Related in Tottenham Hale, North London.

The installation, entitled "As you pass me by, know that it is nothing but love from me", is part of a two-year residency for Yinka at the major regeneration scheme which is transforming the local area.

In total, the Heart of Hale scheme will create over 1,000 new homes once complete, 15 retail spaces, co-working and office space, a new health centre serving 30,000 local people, and three public squares, all next to Tottenham Hale station.

Talking about his Heart of Hale residency, Yinka Ilori, said: "Partnering with Argent Related and this exciting regeneration offers an opportunity to tell the story of this area through the mode of art and design. Each installation aims to bring life and joy to a space in-progress, a space in disruption. This artwork will offer a moment of pause amidst our busy lives, and a chance to playfully reflect on the richly diverse communities that form the backbone of this city."

Vickie Hayward of Company, Place Ltd, a cultural consultant for Heart of Hale and Tottenham resident,  commented: "It is an absolute honour to work alongside Yinka Ilori to bring his vision for the area to life. This work is the first in a series of public realm interventions from Ilori, commissioned for the Heart of Hale development. In this series of commissions, Ilori harmoniously fuses together the old and the new, through a colour palette encouraged by the diverse range of wildlife found around the River Lea, and from the colours of the local area."

Tom Goodall, Partner and Head of Residential for Argent Related said: "We are proud to partner with acclaimed artist Yinka Ilori who represents the creativity of the area and the sense of place we are developing at Heart of Hale. We don't just build buildings, we help shape places in which communities and neighbourhoods can thrive. Art, culture, and events are a critical part of this. Heart of Hale is generating strong demand and we are looking forward to bringing forward the next phase of development in the coming months."

Wayne McNamara, Senior Project Manager for Galliford Try, commented: "As a contractor we are always conscious of the impact any development makes on the local environment during the construction phase. The opportunity to have a fantastic installation from an artist such as Yinka really brings a scheme like this to life and helps make us part of the local community in a very unique way. We can't wait to see what else he is able to produce during his time with the project."​