- Heart of Hale’s Artist in Residence, the renowned British-Nigerian multidisciplinary artist Yinka Ilori, has today (23 September 2021) unveiled his latest artwork, “Take it in and take time”, in Tottenham Hale, London.
- “Take it in and take time” is an installation of street furniture, consisting of a series of seating and a bespoke clock designed to be a destination for people to meet, relax, and reflect, and an opportunity for different communities of the area – new and old – to come together.
- This is Ilori’s second installation for Argent Related’s landmark scheme, Heart of Hale, in Tottenham Hale’s regeneration area.
- The Heart of Hale development will feature 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.
Yinka Ilori MBE’s artwork, “Take it in and take time”, has today, 22 September 2021, been revealed at Heart of Hale. The new installation of street furniture features a series of seating and planting as well as a bespoke clock designed to be a destination for people to meet, relax, and reflect, and an opportunity for different communities of the area – new and old – to come together.
The latest installation is his second piece, as part of his two-year residency at the development, in which he will deliver several installations for the public realm as well as exciting community projects, cementing the area’s growing reputation as an artistic hotspot with 1 in 5 residents working in the creative industries.
The latest artwork, set to be in place until March 2022, flows seamlessly from Ilori’s first work on-site “As you pass me by, know it is nothing but love from me” which was unveiled in Heart of Hale earlier this year.
Both artworks take inspiration from the historical context of the site and Tottenham’s connection to the rest of London via the River Lea. Ilori has used pattern to reference the River Lea’s flow, which is acts as a metaphor for the ever-changing urban landscape of London.
Each of Ilori’s installations in Tottenham Hale aims to bring life and joy to a space in progress. In this series of commissions, he has fused the old and the new through a bold colour palette inspired by the local area’s colours and the diverse range of wildlife found around the River Lea.
Yinka Ilori has worked closely alongside the Argent Related team to develop and design an installation that takes ordinary, everyday objects and transforms them into a celebration of colour. In this instance, Ilori has repurposed secondhand manhole rings, items typically used in water drainage systems, and transformed them into street furniture that sits alongside a new Pillar clock, which will act as a new meeting point in Tottenham Hale.
Crucially, Ilori’s modular street furniture has been designed to move around the area and can be resituated to brighten up public spaces as the Heart of Hale site moves towards completion.
Talking about the next phase of his Heart of Hale residency, Yinka Ilori, said:
“Over the last five months, myself and Argent Related have been working on an installation that will encourage people to gather together as a community. The result is “Take it in and take time” – a place where passers-by can sit, reflect, even talk to someone new. Bringing people together is a powerful thing, and I hope this artwork serves as a reminder of this, and that it becomes a place of joy for the old and new community of Tottenham Hale.”
Tom Goodall, Partner and Head of Residential for Argent Related said:
“We are delighted and thankful to Yinka Ilori for once again designing an installation that brings colour and joy to Tottenham Hale. Our partnership with Yinka Ilori symbolises our commitment to supporting the area, prioritising public spaces, and allowing them to become places for the local community to enjoy. Public art is a fundamental part of creating interesting and engaging places, enhancing the environment for the local communities and visitors alike.”
The Heart of Hale development is set to enrich and enliven Tottenham Hale, delivering a fully integrated neighbourhood with homes, retail, restaurants, co-working and office space. The scheme is vital for the future vision of the area, delivering green spaces, a new health centre serving 30,000 people, improved road networks and a bus station, as well as affordable housing and new job opportunities