Tottenham residents part of Tate Exchange exhibition
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A talk presented by Faruk Tepeyurt from Peacock Industrial Estate Credit Carter Foto

By Milena Ruibyte

Last month, residents of Tottenham took part in an exhibition called Who Are Ya?– a week-long event exploring themes of art, identity and football, held at Tate Exchange (the collaborative arts space at Tate Modern).

Locals discussed the expansion of Tottenham Hotspur stadium and its effects on the nearby community, as part of the exhibition sub section, called Tottenham’s Trojan Horse?

Dr Mark Panton and Amanda Lilly- white, author and illustrator of the book, Tottenham’s Trojan Horse? coordinated the event, discussing the topic of stadium-led regeneration, alongside the residents who provided their personal experiences.

The redevelopment of the Tottenham stadium has seen 297 homes on the nearby Love Lane estate earmarked for demolition, and many local businesses placed at risk of relocation.

Concerned business owners, including those from the Peacock Industrial Estate, White Hart Lane, voiced how the current construction changes are affecting them.

The Tottenham-led event featured a conversation area, a workshop, a video installation and displays which included a two metre, wooden Trojan horse, made on Peacock Industrial Estate by Martin Bates Design, with a base by Siimo Luha of Solmaz Ltd.

When speaking of stadium-led regeneration, Alex Fox, host and staff member at Tate Modern, said: “It’s an issue that needs a bigger platform and we can provide that.”

Dr Mark Panton said: “This event is informing people of what is going on between the stadium and the local train station.”

“It isn’t just a shiny new stadium; it has wider impact and this event is trying to show people what that wider impact is, in terms of the potential destruction of social housing and industrial space.”

“I think the football club should be more transparent about what their plans are because they still have other plans that they are developing on the other side of the High Road, and they should acknowledge the impact working 24/7 on the new stadium has had on people.”

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