The Emergence Commission

To celebrate the 10th edition of our Hampstead Fair, we launched a special commission for emerging artists to produce a site-specific installation in the entrance to the fair. Following an open-call out to University of the Arts London students and alumni, the installation will be unveiled at Affordable Art Fair Hampstead, 5 – 8 May!

Can you smell the petrichor or is it just the blossoms?

The winning design comes from a duo of students at Central Saint Martins; Victoria Yeo (BA hons Architecture) and Pei Yi Goh (BA hons Ceramic Design). Titled Can you smell the petrichor or is it just the blossoms? the work explores the complex coexistent relationship between man and nature as we emerge from the pandemic.

The installation is made up of a series of translucent steel mesh sculptures, inspired by natural forms, covered by over 250 hand-made flowers, each made from recycled plastic bottles and individually placed. Each flower represents an individual, blossoming yet enveloped within the larger whole.

The artists Victoria Yeo and Pei Yi Goh see the flowers as a reminder to the viewer: to remember that our actions have consequences, and it is often the natural world that pays the price. They hope the installation will prompt visitors to think about the path they will choose to take now we are emerging from the pandemic.

“Petrichor is the scent of the earth when touched by rain. This blend between the rain (a natural cycle of life) and earth (the land occupied by mankind) represents the relationship between the two. Will it be one where nature is included and protected or will it just be nature fighting by itself?”

Artists Victoria Yeo and Pei Yi Goh

About the artists

Victoria Yeo is a second-year architecture student at Central Saint Martins, UAL. Born in Malaysia, Victoria came to London in 2019 to study for a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design before moving on to architecture. Her work is often inspired by the relationship between man and nature, exploring the ways in which nature encompasses the urban environment. She says: “My future aspirations are to complete my masters in either London or Tokyo and become a qualified architect based in Japan. I always find myself referencing Japanese architectural precedents in my projects as I believe they are able to embrace the beauty within simplicity and also redefine the way we interact with buildings.”

Pei Yi Goh is a first-year Ceramic Design student at Central Saint Martins, UAL. Originally from Malaysia, she is currently based in London. She mainly works with clay and is interested in immersive and interactive installations, which have informed her exploration of tactile surfaces that play with perspective. She says “Working with clay, a finite resource, has made me realise the importance of ethical and sustainable practice, and I hope to develop my practice, with that in mind, even further in the next three years.”

“We’re so pleased to be able to offer this landmark opportunity to early career artists like Victoria Yeo and Pei Yi Goh. The Emergence Commission continues Affordable Art Fair’s tradition of supporting emerging artists to show their work at our fairs. It’s the perfect public platform to kickstart their careers and we can’t wait to see the installation realised at our Hampstead fair!”

Hugo Barclay, UK Fair Director

Commissioned by Affordable Art Fair in collaboration with Arts SU (the students’ union for University of the Arts, London) the Emergence Commission provides early career artists with a £5,000 fee, professional development support and a major platform to showcase their work to our fair visitors.

You can see the installation in person, alongside 1,000s of inspiring contemporary artworks from over 100 exhibiting galleries at our Hampstead Fair from 5 – 8 May. Don’t miss it – book your tickets below.